Explore the world's largest and most comprehensive skatepark directory with over 19100 skateparks, pumptracks, schools, shops and super cool hostels with miniramps or bowls.
Trucks and Fins is both a tool that will help you find the nearest skatepark, miniramp, vert, indoor or pumptrack and a platform dedicated to documenting the everyday side of skateboarding culture, not just covering the small percentage of people who get to do it professionally. Trucks and Fins makes it easy to find schools, shops and awesome places to sleep with bowls or miniramps. A map of stoke for the traveling skater.
Our mission to skate every skatepark continues. This time we went to Nazaré, a village in the West Portugal coast, known worldwide for its giant waves. To honour that legacy and prestige, the local skatepark features a handmade concrete wave. You don’t find anything like this in the rest of the country. While elderly woman display long stalls of dried fish, waiting for the sun to do its work (the same fish their husbands, brothers and sons caught in the Atlantic Sea); while surfers are keen to surf the famous giant waves in Praia do Norte, an achievement only for the brave; while tourists save moments for eternity by taking pictures in the promontory O Sítio; while locals and outsiders enjoy the seafood, the Trucks and Fins crew proved that Nazaré is a place to skate as well. After leaving the Pousada da Juventude in Alfeizerão with its rural landscape and family of sheep behind, we went straight to Nazaré Skatepark to check out the vibe and a special feature: a concrete wave of 2,20 meters, which makes this small, but fun park, unique. “There’s no other like this in Portugal”, says João Sales, chairman of Wasteland Skateparks, responsible for Nazaré Skatepark’s profound renovation in 2014. “Once we were in Nazaré, we thought it would make sense to invite surfers to skate this park. I was inspired by a park in the Basque Country in Spain, which has this special characteristic. It’s totally handmade, the concrete was placed manually, and it turned out to be something between vertical and inverted. It’s a 2,20-meter wave, something really cool”, he adds. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This was one of the first public skateparks built by Wasteland Skateparks. Building is not really the right word; adapting is the one. “There was a previous park here. The actual mayor, Walter Chicharro, who decided to develop sports activities in Nazaré, asked us to renovate the park with a small budget. We did that”, João Sales proudly remembers, explaining why he had to build small ramps on the bottom side of the park: “There’s a wall and a parking lot. We always must adjust to the surroundings.” Nazaré Skatepark was not made for big crowds. It fits about 15 riders at the same time, and you can skate three possible lines by exploring the quarterpipes, the delta, the spine, and other street obstacles. Some improvements are needed, though, João Sales acknowledges this. “It’s more a bureaucracy issue, but because we have a big affection for this park and for the local skaters, sometimes we come here to fill some concrete holes and to fix the rails”, says the Wasteland Skateparks’ chairman. This park has one major plus point: its astonishing location. Going to this village in the Silver Coast of Portugal is a full experience. Even better with a skateboard. Visit Nazare skatepark Find out more about Wasteland skateparks
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Our mission to skate every skatepark continues. This time we went to São Pedro da Cadeira in Portugal, a parish in the municipality of Torres Vedras, about 55 km from Lisbon. This bowl with pool coping stands out because it's also one of the cleanest parks in Portugal. All that thanks to the local community. Find out why. Skating with the Atlantic wind behind you. The West Portugal coast has something mystique and spreads it out all over its territory. Going to São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark is all about breathing pure air whilst flowing on some super mellow concrete. Built in 2020 by Wasteland Skateparks during the pandemic, this concrete park features a quarterpipe, a ledge, a delta, and a bowl with pool coping and tiles (assuring the unique crack sound. Grrrrrrr!). It is probably one of the cleanest parks in Portugal too thanks to the local community who nurtures and fosters the spot with love, like polishing the stone coping before our arrival! “It’s really a clean place because the park where the skatepark is located is very well cared for”, says João Sales, from Wasteland Skateparks, praising the local parish council members: “One of them is a skater and he is constantly taking care of the joints and putting the varnish on the coping.” The local love for skateboarding has another chapter that must be told: “This is a small skatepark, for the local neighbourhood, but it was even smaller in the initial design. The chairman of the parish council asked us to enlarge it, we said it was impossible for the available budget, but he helped out by paying the concrete. Thanks to this we were able to extend the skatepark, by building more obstacles with no extra costs.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); São Pedro da Cadeira is a parish with a population of 5217 inhabitants belonging to the municipality of Torres Vedras, about 55 km from Lisbon. To respond to the skate fever the city council has invested in this facility inside of the Parque Verde Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, witch contrasts with the agriculture field and vineyards in the region. The bowl is definitely worth a visit, João Sales says why: “It’s not too deep because the skate scene in Portugal in 2020 was like 95 per cent street and 5 per cent transition. In this bowl the beginners lose their fear and have this pool coping with tiles that looks like we are dropping in on an empty backyard pool in someone’s house.” Extra tip: when you leave the park take a few minutes to enjoy the view from the Assenta Beach cliffs while eating the regional cake with a shape of a horseshoe. It will lift your spirit for riding the next day. Visit São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark Find out more about Wasteland skateparks
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In this episode Bros around the globe shows us how skateboarding helps us understand the different cultures around the world. In this blog you’ll get an idea about the influence of the collectivist culture in Southeast Asia and Latin America on the local skateboarding scene. Here’s an example: “In Asian and Latin countries, you will find old and young skaters both new and experienced supporting one another in the park or plaza.” Skateboarding is often associated with individualism or rebellion and may seem like an unlikely realm to find traces of collectivism. But the skateboarding community is a melting pot of cultures and people from all walks of life. More alike than different, every skater can relate to those memorable days on their boards, and the ones they’d rather forget. The good ones that remind us of why we skate and the shitty ones that leave us frustrated, questioning why we continue to put ourselves in pain. No matter where you are from, the common denominator remains: skaters are all searching for that next line or trick that keeps the stoke tank filled and has us coming back for more. Lenia Plaza Hanoi Throughout my travels around the world, I’ve observed a special influence on skating that stands out, particularly in Latin American and Southeast Asian countries: the heritage of collectivistic culture. With its emphasis on interconnectedness, harmony, and mutual support, Asian and Latin collectivism has found its way into the skateboarding world, creating a unique blend of individual expression and community spirit. For this installment of the skate and travel blog series, we will explore the principles of collectivist cultures and how they manifest in the skateboarding community, fostering a tight-knit and supportive community. Collectivistic culture is deeply rooted in traditions and values that prioritize the group over the individual. It emphasizes interdependence, cooperation, and maintaining harmonious relationships within the community. Key aspects of this culture embody themselves in the Latin American and Southeast Asian skate world, including a sense of duty, respect for authority, strong family ties, and the pursuit of collective goals. Regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or social background, skateboarders unite under a common passion for the lifestyle, fostering a deep sense of belonging The skateboarding community is renowned for its inclusivity and acceptance of diverse backgrounds. Asian and Latin collectivism further strengthens this unity and community by encouraging skateboarders to look beyond their differences and embrace a shared identity. Regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or social background, skateboarders unite under a common passion for the lifestyle, fostering a deep sense of belonging. This collectivism first revealed itself to me in Southeast Asia while traveling through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, and then in Latin countries by way of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Central America, and Mexico. Whether it be by local skaters organizing charity events, mentoring aspiring shredders, or working on local skatepark projects, they always keep the country’s entire skate scene in mind. Collectivist culture places a strong emphasis on respect for authority and intergenerational relationships. These values find expression in the skateboarding community through mentorship and guidance. Experienced skateboarders often take on the role of mentors, sharing their knowledge and skills with younger generations. This fosters a supportive atmosphere where beginners can learn from the wisdom of those who came before them, guiding them in both technical expertise and the community's values. With the OGs passing the torch, it assures skating's future is in the right hands, and tricks, styles, skate parks, and skate spots are respected. In Asian and Latin countries, you will find old and young skaters both new and experienced supporting one another in the park or plaza. Not to say it doesn’t happen in other parts of the world, but for these cultures in particular, it’s simply in their blood. In a collectivistic culture, collaboration and unified progression take precedence over individual achievement. In Asian and Latin lands, they want to be proud of skaters from their countries and how the rest of the skate world views them. This mindset has influenced the skateboarding community, where skateboarders often collaborate on DIY projects, filming video parts, or organizing events. By pooling their resources and skills, they not only create sick edits and put down steezy tricks to share with the world but also strengthen their bonds and uplift the community. First and foremost, Asian and Latin collectivism emphasizes a sense of responsibility towards their skateboard family. This value is embodied within the skateboarding community through various initiatives that give back. Whether it be by local skaters organizing charity events, mentoring aspiring shredders, or working on local skatepark projects, they always keep the country’s entire skate scene in mind. By engaging in these movements and initiatives local skaters reinforce the notion that their success is intertwined with the well-being of the community, and they actively contribute to its growth and development. After traveling to these regions with my board in an attempt to meet skaters from all around the world, the influence of Asian and Latin collectivistic culture on their skateboarding community is undeniable. It adds depth to the individualistic nature of the sport, creating a unique blend of self-expression and communal harmony. Through the principles of unity, mentorship, collaboration, and social responsibility, collectivist culture infuses the skateboarding community with a strong sense of interconnectedness and mutual support. As the skateboarding world continues to evolve and grow, it is essential to recognize and celebrate the diverse cultural influences that shape its vibrant and inclusive character. Website Bros around the Globe Read Blog Pura Pura skatepark
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Next spot on our mission to skate every skatepark in Portugal is Venda do Pinheiro skatepark, a gem built by Wasteland skateparks. Last weekend we were back on the road with the crew, this time with Keanu Schwedt, Patrick Costa and Margarida Cepeda. Menu of the weekend: Venda do Pinheiro, Lourinhã and Alcobaça skatepark. This roadtrip was made possible by Ripar skateshop, Wasteland skateparks and Dropin surf camp who were brave enough to have us over for the weekend. The first park we hit was Venda do Pinheiro skatepark, located in Parque Ecológico Venda do Pinheiro park. The skatepark features a flowbowl built by the Portugese legends, Wasteland skateparks back in 2018. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for transition, flow and good vibes. Video production: Rodrigo Simaõ (Edit and filming) and Haroun Cherif (DJImini) Visit Venda do Pinheiro skatepark
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Prado Beach skatepark, in Marseille, aka Bowl of Marseille, is one of the best in France and also one of the most iconic parks in Europe. Every line was meticulously designed to provide a high, but controlled speed, where physics and aesthetics combine like no other, with the Mediterranean Sea as eyewitness. Tic Tac, tic tac. Everybody knows Newton’s cradle (or pendulum), a gadget of five balls suspended in which we lift one ball at one edge, we release it and the fifth ball rises. It’s the magic of physics. This is one simple way to understand the difference between kinetic energy and potential energy and that's what inspired Jean-Pierre Collinet when he designed the Bowl of Marseille, the most famous skatepark in France and one of the best in Europe. “The bowl is the permanent propulsion of a skateboarder. It might seem something natural, but it’s not. A skater doesn’t have a pedal or other mechanical support. The bowl is the way to transform the potential energy into kinetic energy and vice-versa. I always wanted to preserve energy in this skatepark”, Collinet said in several public presentations and interviews. People say the world is shaped by math and they’re probably right. In the Bowl of Marseille, there is no doubt about it and that’s why it's so unique. Its conception put physics and aesthetics on the same level. In other words: this skatepark was made for speed, high-calculated speed and no waste of power. “The bowl is the way to transform the potential energy into kinetic energy and vice-versa. I always wanted to preserve energy in this skatepark” Jean-Pierre Collinet “There was a boy who had a big pool at his backyard that was 3,30 meters deep. That was when I learned what was possible and not possible to do in a bowl. At the same time, I had a teacher who taught me the concepts of physics”, Jean-Pierre Collinet explained. His studies about how to make interceptions between geometric figures were one of the keys to the success of this project. The best secret of this park: clean and diversified lines and technical transfers. You ride until your breath is over. The Bowl of Marseille was inaugurated in 1991 and was built by Constructo skateparks, It was one fo the first bowls in France and costed around 220.000 euros (a million francs, the former French currency), something like 440.000 euros (482.000 dollars) with the inflation rate. Its importance for concrete skateparks is consensual and the global skate community (not just the French community) recognize it, because it didn’t take much time to become one of the most searched parks worldwide. Tony Hawk gave a hand by displaying it on Pro Skater 2 video game, leveraging Marseille to the top level of skateboarding in Europe. Tony Hawk gave a hand by displaying it on his Pro Skater 2 video game, leveraging Marseille to the top level of skateboarding in Europe. That’s why The Mucem (The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) in Marseille showcases a 1983 Tony Hawks’ skateboard. A revolution happened. Nothing new to this passionate Mediterranean city, after all they are used to hold bigger revolutions, like the History books tell us. All this buzz made the Bowl of Marseille the perfect candidate to host major events, like the Quiksilver Bowlrider, which takes place on the third weekend of May. The resemblances with California are purposeful. Collinet was inspired by the skatepark of Huntington Beach (currently known as Vans Off the Wall Skatepark) and after creating the Bowl of Marseille he found other parks very similar, like the one in Lugano, Switzerland. But you can’t copy the aura. Each park has its own and the Bowl of Marseille is made of love for skateboarding. In 2017 the park was totally renovated (with a cost of 590.000 euros/646.500 dollars, financed by the City Hall) "Prado Beach had some skateble pipelines thanks to the construction of the sewers and I started to ride them. I was used to it because I did that in the USA. People started to go there to see me ripping it”, the skater and architect added. As representative of the King of Spain group (the name of their neighbourhood with the same name in Marseille) Collinet went to the City Hall, advocating for the construction of a skatepark at Prado Beach. The politicians said yes, and the rest is an ongoing story. In 2017 the park was totally renovated (with a cost of 590.000 euros/646.500 dollars, financed by the City Hall), featuring a smooth concrete and all distinctive characteristics that make the Bowl of Marseille unique. For those who still don’t know it, take a note: a spine with 1,70 meters, two separated halfpipes, five bowls with a depth from 1,80 meters to 2,70 meters (this one called ‘the mega’) and a street section. The weather is a perfect ally. Due to the Mediterranean climate, you can skate there almost every day and during night hours, too, because of the artificial lighting. BMXers are allowed to ride but only specific hours, depending on school periods. If Paris is the capital of France, Marseille is the country’s capital of skateboarding. The oldest French city was shaped by many cultures and that diversity is the heart of skateboarding. If you ride there, you will understand it. So, say ‘bonjour’ and go skate. Visit Prado beach skatepark
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Next stop on our mission to visit all the skateparks in the world is the new Mafra skatepark in Portugal Now that we've almost mapped out all the skateparks in the world, it's time for our next mission: visit them all. Special thanks to Bana skateshop for sponsoring our first spot, to Patrick Costa for the show and to Rodrigo Simão for filming and the video edit. We started our trip to Mafra with a couple of street spots and then went to check out the new skatepark in Parque Desportivo Municipal de Mafra. The new 1.648,91 m2 Mafra skatepark is a wooden park, built by Academia dos Patins in 2023. Mafra skatepark is made up of 3 different sections, featuring a bowl, jump area and street section. Visit Mafra skatepark
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July 20 2022 - Interview with Skatepark Respect. Do you know how much a trash truck weighs? Well, it’s almost the equivalent of the trash Skatepark Respect ambassadors and volunteers have removed since this project started. The numbers talk for themselves: 26637 pounds of trash (12.082 kg) collected, almost 3000 hours of cleaning, 130 ambassadors around the world, 130 skateparks with regular interventions and hundreds of anonymous people who just want to have a better place to skate, or to be. Steve Zanco often reminds us of the broken window theory. When a sign of vandalism is there and you do nothing, other windows will be broken, and it will escalate. The president of this non-profitable organization explains us how he and his ambassadors are reversing the cycle. This is much more than just pure love for skateboarding. This is all about community. Who are the dirtiest: riders or non-riders? All the above. Skateparks tend do be a place to hangout and for the most parks the riders do take care of the place, but they are some that don’t. "When skaters really care and step up that’s when real change happens" Steve Zanco (president of Skatepark Respect) VISIT WEBSITE Do the riders have to be the gatekeepers of the skatepark? Skaters and all the folks who enjoy the park are de real champions. The city hall puts all the money, get things built and often contract cleaning parks out, but the real day-to-day maintenance should be done by the people who enjoy it. When riders realize this is an amazing gift, they treat them like that. When skaters really care and step up that’s when real change happens. Let’s think of ten random parks. How many are clean in the morning? Zero (he laughs). The cities take care of the landscaping and other recreational areas… those tend to take priority, not the actual skatepark. Have you ever caught somebody dirtying/vandalizing a park and what did you do? It has happened and things can escalate. When it happens we have a conversation with the folks and explain the reasons why it’s important to keep it clean or the reasons to not tag it up. We really explain that these things can be closed, this can be taken away quick. There are times when folks get all grumpy about it, and we try to fight that message. When they realize that their actions are direct reflectors of what happens at the parks and if it stays, they tend to say ‘I’m sorry, my bad’. Who tends to “trash” most? Younger or older? It tends to be younger, twelve/thirteen to mid-twenties. Tell us about a good cleaning operation that you will remember till the end of your days. There was one in Denver. It snowed until an hour before the event. We were really worried. But we had the support of local groups, city hall, the park rangers and we had over fifty volunteers, plus an extra fifteen from the city hall with blowtorches, shovels... We got rid of well over fifty full bags of trash and we also did some landscaping’s and removed graffiti. It was an all hands and deck operation. The place was spotless and we were able to skate that day. Afterwards our ambassadors became the stewards of that park. What’s the criteria to become a Skatepark Respect’s ambassador? There is a bit of a conversation and we ask them questions. We just want them to clean the park. Of course, we can’t control what happens all over the world but finding individuals who want to support the cause is huge. We encourage them to clean up their parks, we don’t ask them to do anything crazy. Do you have goals regarding ambassadors outside the US? We started in the USA but when Covid hit we weren’t able to do clean-ups, travel, do a lot of things, so we looked for other opportunities to continue the movement, but without us necessarily being there all the time. There were a lot of amazing people around the world that were reaching out and saying ‘hey, how can we be part of this?’; ‘how can I do this in my area, do you have any tips?’ We were creating these relationships and creating the ambassador program. Our goals for the ambassador program are to encourage them to share their information, their stats: how many pounds of trash did you pick up; how many hours do you spend; do you have a bunch of volunteers? Who did you talk to? Do you have good stories? The park was about to be closed but we fought for that; Our goals are to spread the message and encourage people to do something little like pick up a piece of trash. If all people were like Japanese, your organization would not be needed, don’t you agree? I’ve been in Japan a lot and it’s incredible. You don’t see any trash cans and there is no trash. I went on the train there and somebody did a graffiti. At the next stop, with no extra time, a group of folks came on, cleaned it, got rid of the graffiti and the train didn’t miss a beep. It’s their culture of respect. They appreciate what they have. Their culture is unique, they see the things they have as a gift and respect others property. That’s a cool mindset. How much trash have you removed and with how many ambassadors? We have 130 ambassadors and we have removed 26637 pounds of trash (12.082 kg), almost 3000 hours of cleaning and 130 skateparks. It’s growing all the time. We’re shipping out kits constantly to our ambassadors with trash pickers, trash bags, scrapers and gloves, we have also a how to clean a skatepark guide. How do you recommend city halls to keep skateparks clean? City Halls really ask these questions. The primary answer is to partner up with the community. If that means we have ambassadors, great! If not, really have a presence there. Show the skaters that the city cares. The locals must have the same conversations and say ‘hey, this is an amazing gift, if you show that you care the city’s going to partner with you and you get more obstacles, constant maintenance, improvements, upgrades and making an easy and symbiotic relationship. Working with the locals is where the real value comes from.’ Do you go to schools to talk about your project? We do. We have a few educational programs that we currently have running. With after school programs we educate kids how to keep things clean and give basic skate education as well: taking care of your board, how to take care of this place. It's about respect as a whole, respecting your things and others. We are working with the concrete industry too, to increase the awareness of the concrete trade. What do you do when you go to a skatepark and find a broken ledge or a ramp that needs to be fixed? Do you fix it yourself? That depends of the support of the city. I try to reach them saying ‘this needs to be fixed, can we help anyway?’ We recently had one that 75 volunteers repaired every crack in the concrete. We had tons of epoxy, we went there with tubes, scrapers, we had all this high school kids helping, it was really good. But it’s all about working with the city because you can’t do it on your own. Sending a text message or a picture to someone, create collaborators. Give us a word to describe a dirty skatepark. ‘Sad’. Because it’s so easy to clean these things. It just takes a little effort. This is also a way to fight several negative stereotypes regarding skateboarding… The stereotype is still there, but it’s better now. The Olympics are helping, Tony Hawk and the Skatepark Project have been a huge advocate for that too, but it still exists. Some folks in the city and in the community still think skateboarders are just doing drugs all the time, tag things up and want to wreck things… But it’s not like that… Being a better person, perseverance, mental toughness, all these things are skateboarding. It’s an accepting community, it doesn’t matter who you are, your believes, religion, just let’s skate. Those things are changing in people’s minds, but it still exists in the older crowds that are not exposed to skateboarding. We try to show the positive side of it, we’re here to help de community. Visit Skatepark Respect
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June 29 2022 - Interview with Troubl3 “I always have been a troublemaker”. If Andrew, 41, had to pitch his idea, this could be a good punchline. It’s one of those cases where a business’s name is not just marketing, but a character’s extension. "So, Troubl3 is giving the middle finger to a lot of skate shops that do not support local people." Andrew (Owner Troubl3) VISIT WEBSITE TROUBL3 is a Canadian skateboard shop based in Otawa. It was born in 2018 from the desire to go against the flow. “Skateboarding industry has become a mass production machine. Everything comes from China or Mexico, where people are not paid right. I buy something for one hundred dollars that really costs ten dollars”, he claims. “Then I thought: if I’m going to be a troublemaker, I might do something different. If I’m making a board it’s got to be unique like any skater is. I’m going to make one by one; it’s going to be tougher, it’s going to last more, every single board is going to be different. When you buy, it’s not just a board, it’s a piece of art and an experience”, he adds. This is something “one hundred percent customized”, from size, shape, wheels base, and a “seven veneer deck”. He proudly details: “Each veneer that goes into each deck is hand picked.” He buys local (wood from Quebec, for instance) in small batches, presses, shapes and hand paints the decks himself also, when he can, he promotes local artists to draw on the skateboards. “So, Troubl3 is giving the middle finger to a lot of skate shops that do not support local people who make stuff. They say they are local, but do not buy local”, Andrew reenforces, protesting against the rules of the game. “I always compare skateboards with pizza. I love pizza: a large one costs 50 bucks, the same you pay for a skateboard sometimes. Those skateboards are made overseas, they cost nothing to make, the price of pizza is gone to double, but the price of skateboards stayed the same for 30 years." “I evoke Paul Schmitt’s case all the time: a big name in this industry who shifted his business from California to Tijuana because people want to keep the price of a skateboard at 50 of 60 dollars for eternity. So, to keep his business going and pay his people, he had to move”, Andrew says. He likes to be different. “Being marginalized is something good in skateboarding”. Although he admits the way he runs business is not sustainable: “The breakeven would be making 250 skateboards a month. Right now, I have had a month when I made four or five, others one or two.” It doesn’t matter. He believes this is the way. And he gives a discount if people really ride them and not just hang his skateboards on the wall. Authenticity is his brand, like the style he prefers for riders: “I like to see the most unorthodox skater. Do you do treflips? Fantastic, so can any other kid. I don’t care, throw your board against the wall, flip it on your head, do a back flip, do something I want to see. It’s different, do skateboarding and not do what others do.” “There’s a kid in Indonesia I started to follow who's skateboarding reminds me of a young Christian Hosoi. When I see the kid skate I can recognize Christian Hosoi’s influence. Can you recognize the inventors of other tricks you see people do at the park?”, he asks. Andrew sponsors five “troublemakers”: Eric Martin (Ontario), Dustin Lawrence (Ontario), Connor Callan aka Meat Feet (Arizona), Luis Uribe (Texas), Shinichi Nichiyama (Japan). He enjoys watching them and supports them the way he can. About his local skateparks, Andrew recommends: Bob MacQuarrie skatepark in Otawa Joel Gauthier skatepark in Rockland Local bus stop where where it's super smooth and is perfect for slappies, now that people stopped using busses, due to Covid, it's always empty and available.
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June 23 2022. You can feel the good vibes from the start. Mac Messenschmidt, 43 years, caught some morning waves at Praia do Areal, in Portugal’s west region, before meeting up with us. Life is to be lived and this german entrepreneur brought his mantra into business, providing a unique surf and skate experience to his guests. From Berlin to Lourinhã: The story behind Drop-In Surf and Skate Camp "Many of my surf and skate teachers were once my guests." DROP-IN SURF AND SKATE CAMP Could you describe the concept behind Drop in surf and skate camp? Altogether we have three houses, but we don’t allow more than 20 people to stay at the same time. They all take part of the experience as a single group and we treat our guests like family. You take people to surf and skate and people can roll at Drop-In as well? Yes. Most people want to surf, but skate has turned into a good part of our experience. We have a bowl and a mini ramp and that's not usual around here. Thanks to my son, skate is rising at my place. He’s nine years old (we also have a daughter who’s 11) and he is almost better than me [he laughs]. When it’s flat, we take our guests to skateparks in Lisbon, specially the one in Campolide [aka Bairro da Liberdade skatepark]. Recently we did a skate camp and it was a success, people loved it. Although someone broke a foot, but that comes with the job… How and when did you start this adventure? It was after my previous business went down. A bit before my thirties we created a clothing brand, called Fourasses (for Surf, Snow, Skate and Sex). Things exploded and, before we knew it, we also had a skate shop in Berlin. At some point we needed an investor to keep up our growth. That's when things started going wrong, and in 2006 the business was a disaster. I had to sell everything and pay back debts. That was quite a shock, I believe. And then you went to Portugal. Yeah, before our kids were born, fortunately. My wife and I always wanted to buy a house in Portugal, even when we were living in Berlin. We went there in 2007 and 2008. We looked at many surf spots, from North to South, but this region was always one of our favourites. So we decided to settle down in Lourinha and it didn't take long before we had our first house and that was the beginning of Drop-In. Where do your guests mainly come from? Old school man... When I closed FourAsses I had a lot of friends in the skate world in Berlin. Before I knew it the place was full of Germans who came to visit me.They create the buzz and that’s why I usually work only with german speaking guests. I don’t need to put Drop-In on Booking or other platforms. Since day one guests have been spreading the word. And they return. 15 years have passed and people who go back to Germany say ‘Vacations? Go to Mac’. People who come here are also educated, cool, and local economy likes them. Did any former guest turn into a good rider or surfer after receiving the Drop in ‘baptism’? Many of my employees are actually former guests who want to come and work here for a while, the same with several surf and skate teachers who work here. I’m not really a boss. We are one big family here. Describe living in Lourinhã? This village is definitely different than Berlin. I was used to living in a crazy city with a lot of parties and in the beginning we did have to adapt a bit to the rhythm of Lourinhã. This village offers you a different way of living. When I go to a local market, I must save half an hour extra because I know I will bump into people that want to talk a bit. It was weird at first, but now I like it. We have this slogan in our house: ‘There are good times and then there are good times’. We always must take the best of everything. Even if it’s shit. Visit Drop-In Visit Lourinhã Skatepark
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It’s in Monsanto Park, almost three times bigger than Central Park in New York, in sunny Lisbon, that lies one of Tomás Borges’s preferred skateparks. Here he teaches and enlightens young and old. It’s where the fear goes away. At the age of 27, Tomás Borges is still building his dreams, whilst helping others achieve their ones on a skateboard. When did you start your skate school? Skateforeveryone was created back In 2019. I started alone but now we are a 5/6 people crew. How do you work with your students? We match students in groups and usually classes are held in Monsanto Skatepark or in Campolide, aka Bairro da Liberdade skatepark. We organize sessions by group, level and age. How have things been going? Things boomed at first. We received loads of requests while teaching people at the skateparks and it didn't take long before we were getting found online too. But our core is on the field, it’s where who wants to become a skater sees and understands what service we provide. Then Covid-19 hit us, but when the gates were open again many people from all different age groups started to skate because it's an open air and an individual sport (whilst many collective sports where still facing restrictions). What drove you to create a skate school? I didn’t want to create something ‘touchable’ because we humans produce a lot of waste and the planet’s sustainability is something I care deeply about. So I decided to create a service from people to people. Since childhood I love skate, worked in skate schools in the past and I have a sport’s academic background, so in 2019 I decided to create my own skate school. How challenging is it to work with so many different ages? We must be prepared to understand different levels of fear. A child has no fear of the consequences, whilst adults are afraid of the risks. So we definitely have to adapt our methodology to different age groups. I’m proud when an adult loses his fear on a coping thanks to my tips. Have you worked with some late beginners? Yes, indeed. A guy called Zé Pedro, who discovered skate when he was 43 years old. He would come to the skatepark, almost daily, and just try to do ollies. Then, one day, he saw me giving lessons, joined my classes and it didn´t take too much time to become a very good skater. Now he rips in the bowl. So, it’s never too late to start to skate. "I am proud when an adult looses his fear on a coping" VISIT SKATEFOREVERYONE
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The Sagrada Familia hostel Barcelona is the Barcelona Skateboard Hostel. A designer hostel with top facilities and great location. It has a skateboard theme that reflects the vibrant urban culture and artistic creativity of Barcelona. We reached out to Gisela Mena, marketing manager of Sant Jordi hostels, to ask a couple of questions. Tell us a quick story about the early days of Sant Jordi Hostels Sagrada Familia. The Sant Jordi Group, dedicated to the temporary accommodation of guests and students, was founded in 1999 to provide personalized service of accommodation and welcome people of all ages who want to stay in the city of Barcelona, with good prices and customized service and attention. Initially, the Group focused on serving university students in shared apartments, but in 2003 decided to take a step forward and create the first hostel of the chain: Sant Jordi Alberg, to accommodate guests traveling alone or in small groups, with shorter stays in Barcelona and looking for affordable accommodation while getting high standard service and for whom socializing is a fundamental part of the travel experience. Why did you decide to integrate skate into your concept? Gradually we developed a concept of high-quality service and social atmosphere and we wanted to give an extra to the experience of our guests and we opted for the thematization of our hostels. Our guests are mostly young people with an adventurous spirit and many of them, besides partying, are lovers of sports, music, art... That is why we decided to dedicate our hostels to different themes. The first one in Barcelona was skateboarding and urban arts and in 2010 the first skate hostel in Europe was born: Sant Jordi Hostels Sagrada Familia. Its name comes from the location near the emblematic icon of Gaudi, but the essence of the hostel is far from the imaginary of the Catalan architect. Our skate hostel converted into a museum of unique vintage pieces of skate history, allows you to relive the golden years of skateboarding, in addition to practicing the sport inside the hostel itself on our mini ramp. All this is decorated with urban art that we periodically renew with artists from around the world. Our Sant Jordi Hostel Sagrada Familia was designed from the beginning to be a skater's paradise. Knowing that Barcelona is considered the European capital of street skating and probably the best city in Europe for skateboarders, we thought it was more than appropriate that Barcelona was the city with the first skate hostel in Europe. Our goal was to create a skate hostel that would be the ideal accommodation for skaters visiting Barcelona and, at the same time, a comfortable place for all other travelers looking for the best facilities and services of a hostel in Barcelona, all at a reasonable price. Also, our hostel has been visited by skateboarders such as Evan Smith or Luan de Oliveira. Tell us a bit more about the local skate scene in Barcelona. For years Barcelona has been among the best places to skate in the world and year after year skaters from all over the world come to our city to enjoy our spaces, beaches, landscapes, and social life with a multicultural atmosphere that makes this city unique in the world. In the 90's Barcelona was a kind of Mecca for skaters and this has led to the creation of emblematic spaces in our skate scene as the MACBA, in addition to the commitment of municipalities to create spaces dedicated to this sport such as municipal Skate Parks (in Barcelona there are 5 public skateparks). Maybe because of this, the city landscape itself has become skate-friendly in many aspects and its spaces invite to practice this sport. Visit Profile page Visit Sant Jordi Hostels website
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The perfect vacation spot for adventurous people seeking thrilling experiences, mindfulness and tranquility. We reached out to Alexandra Freire at Bukubaki to ask a couple of questions. Tell us a quick story about the early days of Bukubaki. Before we talk about the early days of our little corner of heaven on earth, it's important to explain the ideology behind Bukubaki! Bukubaki grew out of the ideology that our whole life revolves around "living in the elements". The responsibles for this project have always lived in the mountains with snowboarding, mountaineering, skiing, and hiking to the sea with sailing, snorkeling, and surfing. Bukubaki is a little bit of everything. Here you can live in a forest, on the ground in a tent with all the comforts or suspended in a treehouse with visual perspectives. All experiences are intended to fill the hearts of those who know how to appreciate them. While navigating the world, they saw a "beautiful world", wounded by pollution but not dead. And here they tried to convey the love for this world that needs to be taken care of, with attention to the environment that not everyone understands. That said, we undoubtedly have a magical and enchanting concept. Not only because of the type of accommodation but because of our whole ideology. This brought us to our first fantastic days! We had a huge turnout, a lot of receptivity, a lot of curious people and this was the starting point for success! Why did you decide to integrate skate into your concept? Skateboarding has always been present since the beginning of the project, together with surfing, and yoga. We are privileged to have a bowl designed especially for us and it is one of our biggest attractions for travelling skateboarders. Skateboarding was chosen because, as explained above, the responsibles for the project have always had a lot of contact with adventure and fun, so... why not include skateboarding in such a personal and translucent project in their lives!! Tell us a bit more about the local skate scene in Peniche. Let's keep in mind that in Peniche what runs in its veins is surfing! Surf is the soul of Peniche! Still, for surfing, there's nothing better than training with a skateboard! So, everything is always interconnected! We have a lot of skating and a lot of skaters in Peniche, although it's not very rooted, it's something very appreciated and practiced. Visit Profile page Visit Bukubaki website
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Noah Surf House lives in total respect and consonance with Mother Nature and was born and raised with its eyes towards the sea. This little gem consists of 8 rooms and 13 bungalows, all decorated in an original way. Once you step into Noah you instantly regret you didn't book more days. This week we reached out to Ângela Pereira, communication manager at Noah, and asked three short questions. Tell us a quick story about the early days of Noah Surf House. And why Santa Cruz? Marta and Gonçalo - the owners, were born and raised around Santa Cruz. The wild Atlantic ocean, the rocky cliffs and sand golden dunes were always their natural environment. If their dream was to build a “house” which could gather sea lovers from all the 4 corners of this world, then Santa Cruz should be the place. Santa Cruz, even though it’s a well-known beach destination among Portuguese people, it’s still very “non touristic”, unchanged and raw. Mostly due being located between 2 big surfing spots (Ericeira and Peniche) and its inconstant weather/sea. We, as locals, rather find it special. We love that it is (still) not crowded or overpriced and that we cannot count on sunny warm days every day of the Summer, we like to be surprised and accept whatever Poseidon feels like giving us that day. This being said, Santa Cruz presents its delicacies only to a few and not every day. It’s not the ordinary definition of paradise… there is no warm water, the northern breeze blows more frequently than we'd like, the sky is grey on most summer mornings, the waves can be rough and powerful… But when conditions are right… Santa Cruz can be overwhelming and one forgets the bad days right away. The good is really good! Somehow all these ingredients combined seemed perfect to open this house. Why did you decide to integrate skate into your concept? For those days when NEPTUNE wakes up in a bad mood, and we cannot go inside the ocean, we can still surf wood waves at the bowl. There's no excuse anymore! Surf, skate or die! Tell us a bit more about the local skate scene in Santa Cruz. In Santa Cruz, while skateboarding or longboarding, you will discover surprising characters and places and inspire dance moves and steps to the sound of the OCEAN in an intense sharing with the local community. Especially the longboard dancing community is growing stronger each year. The local association Sealand organizes several longboard meetings during Spring and Summer, with workshops, challenges and gigs. No need to say that you need to book in time. Do it now, you can thank us later. Visit Noah on trucksandfins Visit Noah website
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Interview with Samuel Lucas, Illustrator / Graphic Designer. | by Sebastião Belfort Cerqueira Samuel Lucas is a very busy graphic designer, but a happy one. Which makes talking to him a freaking pleasure . He took a little time to tell us his story and it’s basically the story of a dude who got to become involved in the work of some of his heroes. How do you beat that? I know you basically do freelance stuff, but I’ve learned that now you're piling up some official jobs on top of that? I know what you’re talking about but, well, to tell you the truth everything is pretty much freelance. Even with Thousand Islands Records [Canadian label], where I’m an art director, it’s still freelance, they pay me by the project. But it’s my choice. I worked briefly in an advertising agency but it just wasn’t my thing. No freedom, no artistic freedom. With Vazva, the spanish clothing brand, it’s the same type of arrangement. At one time, before the corona panic, I was doing four different collections or drops a year for them. I knew that throughout the year I’d be working for them during certain periods, which is cool for a freelancer, because it helped me fit the rest of my work around those dates. With the stuff I’m doing for Cruzade Skateboards it’s pretty similar. Speaking of Cruzade, it’s funny because those graphics caught my eye recently and I had no idea who was doing them. They sort of reminded me of some Creature graphics but maybe a little more cartoonish. Yeah, I’d been following their stuff pretty much since they started because they were working with a Spanish artist I thought was really good. I had thought more than once that I’d like to be able to work with them sometime and then one day they just sent me an email. We hit it off really quickly and got to work. But right now, man, the skateboard market is pretty insane. I just finished a collection for Cruzade in late April that’ll only be coming out in 2022. They don’t have enough raw material, enough wood to keep up with the demand. Samuel Lucas on instagram Follow Yeah, I’d heard similar stories. But going back, I’d like to ask you how you started. Were you always drawing a lot, was there any particular gig that made you realize that you could do illustration for a living? Well, I’d say I started when I was in high school, around 2009. We had this website for promoting punk shows and that’s when I began paying more attention to the bands I was listening to, learning about them and I remember noticing the Vans Warped Tour posters, how they looked. Then at about the same time I got into my school’s students’ union and there I was involved in actually organizing concerts. The first one we did was a Fonzie [Portuguese skate punk band] show. We had to draw a poster and there was no one else so I just thought I should give it a try. I still remember, the whole poster was done on Paint. But it must’ve worked, because just through word of mouth I started getting requests to design posters and other stuff for other Portuguese punk bands. Eventually I won this international contest to design a merchandising line for Etnies. The prize was simply them going through with it, like actually producing and distributing the line like they do all their product. That gave me quite a bit of visibility. And I used it to open some doors. I’d get in contact with bands and be like “hey, I did this, what do you say?” From 2010 to 2014, while I was in college, all the money I made I could just spend on partying and going out. After college, and especially after having worked with big names like NOFX, The Casualties or No Fun at All, I thought maybe I should hold on to this more seriously, because it was what I enjoyed doing and I had been doing fine so far. Your style definitely makes me think of a lot of 90s punk albums, and 80s skate graphics, Jim Phillips comes to mind... were you looking at the work of any particular artists or was it more a sort of vague influence from a whole era? No, you’re right there. Jim Phillips was for sure someone I paid a lot of attention to. Him and his son Jimbo were both probably my main inspirations. There were also some other guys I really liked, like Sean Cliver, Brandon Heart... then more on the punk music side Horsebites (Richard Minino), Dan Mumford, Godmachine... I mean they’re all different but it’s also useful to be able to adapt a little bit according to each client’s needs. I was looking at your stuff and thinking, this really is illustration. It’s not a drawing or painting that someone puts on a record cover or a skate deck, it illustrates an idea or tells a little story. How do you get to that? For example, for a record, do you talk with the band, do you get to listen to the album? Yeah, usually they’ll send me the album while it’s still in production. Most of the times I’m either in contact with someone in the band or with a manager or someone like that and they’ll give me a starting point, a basic idea that I’ll explore. It’s usually a simple process. After the initial briefing we send the design back and forth a couple of times until it’s done. For example, if there’s an album that’s going to have a big booklet with all the lyrics and a lot of pages, I try to imagine a graphic solution that’ll run through all of it, something that’ll make sense from the cover, through the booklet and the cd itself, to the back cover. Right now Thousand Islands is preparing a compilation album. And “thousand island” is the name of a well-known type of salad dressing. So we’re redoing the label’s logo to look like a bottle of salad dressing and I was telling them that the compilation will have to look like a restaurant menu, with different types of dressings and stuff like that. Particularly in the case of punk bands, where most of the times they have something they really want to get across, you can take that conceptual side and explore it to the limit. One example that I’m really happy with is the work I did for [Portuguese punk band] Artigo 21. Their album was going to be called Ilusão [Illusion] so I thought we should find a way to reveal every image as an illusion. The cover shows someone sitting at home, in a nice house, watching this smiling politician with a background of green trees on their smartphone. Then you open the cover and everything turns out to be complete shit. The dude is handcuffed to his phone, the trees behind the politician were a set, there’s a guy starving beside him, factories everywhere... Having the little cutout really increased the cover’s production costs, which for a Portuguese band, in the Portuguese market, could well mean that they’d have a hard time making their money back. But I’m glad they thought it was worth it anyhow. That’s cool. It already says a little bit about your process but I wanted to ask you about a particular project you did. I really liked the board design you made for Trucks and Fins, the one with the UFOs, I think you nailed the site’s spirit. I wanted to ask you: how did you come to that one? I’m also very happy with how that one turned out. The process, I mean, Haroun [T&F co-founder] just told me “you know what the site is about and you know our work so just do whatever you think is better” and, well, it was like you said, I just had to think about what the website was. I knew it had to be something pretty futuristic and then I thought it would be cool to refer to the website’s international scope, so I had the idea of including all these famous monuments. So yeah, I thought of these UFOs coming to steal all the skateparks and taking them to another dimension, which would be the dimension where Trucks and Fins is. When we do a new version we can continue the story and have the aliens skating the parks they stole on Mars or somewhere like that. Also, the central ship, which is taking a skatepark with a skater in it, is taking the Venice Beach skatepark, which for us is just as iconic as all the monuments that are lying about broken at the bottom. It’s a great idea and a great graphic, I hope they’ll go into production some time soon. Before we go, are you working on anything cool right now, is there anything you’d like to announce? There’s one thing that I’m really hyped on. Rastilho Records is doing a re-issue of Censurados Ao Vivo [classic Portuguese punk band live reunion album] and I’ll be doing the design for that. Also, I’m starting a collection for this American punk band that I’ve been a fan of for years. They’re called A Wilhelm Scream and they’ re huge in the States, and not just there of course. Their first t-shirts or posters were done by Jimbo Phillips and I was looking at them and thinking that I’d love to do something for those guys one day. Then about two months ago I got an email from their manager and I was ecstatic. I’m doing two designs for them. That’s what I call a happy-ending. Thanks a lot, Samuel. Check Trucks and Fins’ instagram for the chance of winning a Samuel Lucas custom-designed deck. TRUCKS AND FINS INSTAGRAM
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Interview with Pascal Lieleg, Photographer. | by Sebastião Belfort Cerqueira The man behind Official Bowlshit is one cool dude. Read on if you want to know the origins of the mysterious tribe of the SkateoFaris, the secret reason why people start skating transition, how to successfully mix beer with skating, and lots of other fun bowlshit. As one of the most active photographers in the Trucks and Fins community, there’s quite a few things I’d like to ask you. However, first of all, I was looking online and I was trying to figure out if you were a professional photographer, I mean, do you do photography for a living? Mmm... I don’t like to use that term. It’s hard to tell when that point comes when you’re a professional. Is it just because you earn money from it? I feel all the time like I have to learn a lot of things when it comes to photography, I’m not finished yet. I wouldn’t call myself a professional, just very ambitious. Plus, I don’t like the pressure. You know, when someone says “oh a professional photographer is coming”... I’m just hoping I can make them happy with my images, but you never know. Sometimes people like them, sometimes they don’t, photography as a lot to do with taste. So, yeah, I do it, but my normal profession is as creative art director for a hotel brand. In my semi-professional way I try to get better at photography and earn some money while I’m at it. One day I hope I can say I make a living from it. That would be the dream. Because I saw you have a whole different side to your photography, outside of skateboarding, like shooting real models and for brands like Adidas and some others... Yeah, I’d say it’s all about context. I do a lot of running and so I came to Adidas because they have a running group here in Hamburg and that’s how I got the connection, cause they said “hey, we need a photographer”. It’s always like that, that’s why I got to work for Men’s Health and Adidas and sometimes for other big brands. "In my semi-professional way I try to get better at photography and earn some money while I’m at it. One day I hope I can say I make a living from it. VISIT PASCAL PROFILE It’s always cool to be at the right place at the right time. But let’s get into skateboarding – I always like to ask people when and where did they start. I guess I was 12. Yeah. Now I'm 33, so I was 12, I was in school. One of my classmates had a board. We were at this school for the whole day, it was like nine hours and then you went home. And the school had great conditions, like big sports facilities, and we also had a little skatepark. It was one rail and two quarter pipes and the bank, that's it. But at least we had something back in the day. And, yeah, we shared this guy’s board because he was the only one who had one. I was so addicted from the first moment that I was wishing I could also get one. And then I got one for Christmas. Yeah. For Christmas, I got a complete. And it was not the typical first board you get when you tell your parents you want to start skateboarding. They’ll usually go to a big Walmart or something and buy a board. But my parents went to a good skate shop and bought me a really good board. So that was quite cool. Since then I had just a few breaks from skateboarding. In my hometown we didn’t have a skatepark, not a real skatepark, we had some quarters. But the city was always trying to put these quarters where we wouldn’t annoy other people, so it was hard for us, it would be like in some industrial parking lot somewhere. Until eventually this guy that was involved in looking out for the youth of the city decided to organize the community and we got our first real ramps and an official park. How old were you then? I guess I was 16 or 17. But before that sometimes we had the chance to go to this big skate hall. That’s one good thing about the area, a forty minute drive would take us to one of the biggest skate halls in Germany. It’s really huge, with 3,200 square meters of skate area. At first, when I was just starting, it was a pretty shitty park, they’d build ramps on pallets and everything was really DIY... but it had a lot of character. But then they got some support from the city and from some big companies and they started improving the ramps until it became a really good park. Nowadays it's called Playground Skatehall. One good thing about it was that, when they were starting, they had miniramps with different sizes, they had huge transition and a half-pipe. Now they have completely re-done the park about four times, I think it’s in its fourth version, but the cool thing is that they still kept some of those first features and my favourite one was the bowl. We didn’t have one in my hometown and so I was always eager to skate it when I went there. And the funny thing is none of the locals ever seemed interested in skating it, most of the times I’d be the only one in the bowl. Yeah, I didn’t have any type of transition around when I started skating, it was just street. So nowadays when I go to a skatepark I just suck at it. It's really funny. I love both. I also do some street stuff. But the main reason why I chose transition was I just had to drop in. Because, back in the day, I was pushing mongo. I wanted to hide it, and when I dropped in nobody saw that I pushed mongo. So I have the theory that most of the halfpipe and bowl skaters are secretely mongo pushers, that's the reason why they start. Mongo pushers are also good at fakie. But, yeah, actually it was just two or three years ago I decided I’d teach myself how to push normal. It was a hard pressure to put on myself but I kept at it and now, even though I’m not as fast as I am pushing mongo, at least it doesn’t look as stupid as in the beginning. It’s really tough. Especially when you’re older and you only have those precious moments to go skate and you know you can have so much fun doing it the way you’re used to. It’s a hard decision. But anyway, I wanted to talk about something else. More than once, when you sent us pictures of skateparks for Trucks and Fins you also sent us little articles about them that were really cool. It’s more than just information about the park, it helps us get an idea of its environment, the people who go there, and so on. Do you have any more of those planned? Yeah, unfortunately some of the parks are closed, and that’s kind of annoying. But when I send you any stuff I always try to ask myself what I would find interesting when I go to a park. And for me it's always the people who are in the park and, like, trying to get to know a little bit the community surrounding it. Because... I don't know, maybe it’s the same everywhere, but at least here in Germany every skatepark in every town is like a community thing. It's not just that some mayor of the city said “Oh, I want to have a skatepark.” It's never like that. It's just the community. In Jever, the town where I grew up, which is famous for its super bitter beer, when we first got our shitty ramps, we formed a group, we called ourselves the SkateoFaris, and we took care of the place. The city let us have a space where we could have the ramps and we wanted to make our little park grow. The city didn’t want to spend money on it so we had to earn it ourselves. We gave skate lessons to kids, we did demos whenever there was a public celebration in town and asked for donations, we sold SkateoFari t-shirts, we invested everything back into the skatepark, and that’s how it grew. And nowadays... it's really, really funny... The skate group still exists 12 years after we founded it. And they, the actual members of that group have no idea who it was that founded all that. They know Joshua Dings but they don't know me and Kevin Kellermann. They still call themselves SkateoFaris, but they have no idea about the history behind their crew. That's pretty funny. It’s a great story. Sometimes we hear about a community getting together in order to convince the local authorities that the town needs a skatepark, but it’s not everyday that people actually take it upon themselves to make money and invest it into their town’s skatepark. It’s pretty inspiring. Moving on, and since you mentioned beer, I really liked your “Beerics” video. I thought it really had some production values to it, and the rhythm is really well-managed. I wanted to ask you, did you shoot it and direct it all by yourself? Yeah! People have asked me that question a couple of times but, yeah, it was all very spontaneous. Tom [Tieste], the skater, has been working for some time as a trainee in this small brewery in Bremen, learning how to make beer. One day he asked his bosses if he could skate the brewery, you know, along the different parts of the process. It was quite funny, because he knows I do some video stuff and he told me about the idea and asked if I could be there to shoot two or three days later. I asked him how long he thought it would take to shoot and he said maybe one and a half to two hours. I have to say he was well organized, he had a good plan. But it was only when I got there that he told me exactly what his plan was and I was like... “ok... fuck.” I had to think about a lot of things. And I guess in the end we were there for four and a half or five hours. Which was okay, yeah. It was okay. But in my head I was always like “you have to remember when he comes from the left side where he goes to, so then the next cut he must come from this side...” Because otherwise you get confused, you know, when he comes from one side and next scene he’s coming from the wrong direction... I had that in mind all the time so the pressure was really high. Yeah, I'm still a little bit proud of that one. Well, you should be, because it looks like something that was made for a big skate brand by two or three photographers or filmers. Speaking of that, are you planning on doing more youtube stuff in the future? How should I put it... yes, I do plan to do more of that stuff. But in the end it's always the time. I love to edit a video but I hate it at the same time because it takes ages. For me the hardest part is to find the beginning and to find a way in which I would like to tell the story. When you have the raw material, you have a lot of options. I want to entertain the viewer and to find my style, but in video editing I don't feel like I've found it yet. I experiment a lot and I try to use new techniques or to adapt stuff I see on skate videos. But there's a lot of things I have to learn. That said, I want to do some artsy stuff, but it's hard to do artsy stuff that everybody understands. I want it to be artsy, but understandable at the same time. But actually I am working on some things right now. Last year I went to the DIY Sintra spot with Joshua [Dings] and I want to edit some video of that trip, I’d like to do it like a travel movie, because I took a lot of photos and I’d like to combine them with the video. Plus he also did some hard tricks there, he did a darkslide, we also have this one with another guy, Chris, who showed up at the spot and was a very good skater. Josh did a blunt to fakie on the quarter while Chris did a backside alley-oop wallride over him. I can’t wait to show that to people. The thing is, when you see it too small, like on instagram, you can’t feel the image. Can’t wait to see it. Now, we’ve recently prepared a short interview we do to every new photographer who joins Trucks and Fins, but since you were onboard before that, I’d like to ask you a couple of questions that we put on there. The first one is more of a request: choose a photo you took that you really like and tell us why. Ok, I have this one I really love [check photo number 4 in the gallery]. The thing is, when you see it too small, like on instagram, you can’t feel the image. You need to look at a big version in order to understand what’s going on. This circle is like a full-pipe, it’s an art object made by this artist called Karolina Halatek. It’s seven metres long, I guess, and it's five metres high and the surface, the inner surface is completely like a led stripe. It’s a plastic full-pipe and it’s completely lit up. It had been standing outside the art museum in Bremen for some weeks and it was completely unprotected, there was no security, I had seen people riding bikes through it. So I went there at night with a couple of friends from Bremen, Louis and Gino, and I asked them if they could do a double. I wanted them completely on the sides and I shot it straight from the front because I wanted the image to be as confusing as possible. It looks flat but then the skaters are not on the same plane. I left a little step that was in front of the sculpture just barely perceptible, but otherwise there are no clues, it’s completely dark. I thought when I dropped it on instagram every skate magazine would be like “What? What is this?”, but it never happened... [laughs] I’m sure it’s because there are not many magazines anymore and they must all be pretty busy. Anyhow, I’d seen that picture on your Trucks and Fins profile page and always thought it was really strange. It makes sense that it’s an art installation, you don’t just find that kind of stuff out there in the wild. Yeah, and you know what’s funny: I really liked the installation so I found Karolina Halatek on instagram and sent her the picture. I thought it was a good picture of her work. But she was really pissed, she was commenting on the post like if she was shouting “NO SKATING ALLOWED!” and I had to say “sorry, we didn’t know, there was no security, nothing...” And then what’s even better is that the Bremen museum organized a competition of the best photos taken at the installation and mine was considered one of the top ones. I also have another good one there where Louis is doing an ollie into it and it looks like he is falling into nothing, like that big wide hole is taking him. The only thing is that his ollie is not that perfect. That's why the shot is not that special but the idea is nice. Sounds cool. Now let me ask you another one from our short quiz: if you could choose a combo to shoot, like any skater doing any trick in any spot in the world, what would your dream combo be? Ooh, that’s a good one... It’s really hard... but there’s this new guy that no one had heard about until Thrasher put his part out, this super sick bowl skater, John Worthington. I know, I think he’s on Creature now. Watching his part I was like “what the hell?” I’d love to see him destroy our local bowl in Bremen. There are these really hard stairs, like in this tight pocket, it took me months to be able to get around them, I was super stoked. I actually met one of my best skate buddies there once. He’d come from Stuttgart and he had a to-do list – he wanted to do all the stairs in all the bowls he could find in Germany. He’d saved Bremen for last and it took him one hour of straight tries. He told me those had been the hardest he’d ever done, and he’s definitely more talented than me. But anyway, I’d love to see Worthington hit those stairs, he’s so skilled at doing hard transition and shallow ends that I imagine he could probably do a backside or frontside air over that pocket. I’d love to take a photo of that. I see you really know your bowlshit... You know, it’s a funny thing, there’s a cool side to not using my real name in my work as a skate photographer. First I can go to the skatepark incognito, people may know Bowlshit but they don’t know that I’m the guy who’s taking all the photos. Some people think Bowlshit is a company, I’ve gotten messages and emails wishing me and all my team the best of luck and stuff like that. It’s funny. You see, when I started doing photography in college I naturally started shooting skating, because that way I could go skating and still get work done for my courses. In my group of friends there was this Swiss guy who used “bullshit” a lot. Anytime he was pissed off he’d say everything was bullshit. Only with his accent it sounded like “bowlshit” and I just thought that was the perfect name for my photography projects. Then we had to build a website for another course and design a logo and I just made everything look like it’s a brand. It’s like one big joke. I can act like I’m this big company. Newspapers that have used my photos ask me for the copyright and I tell them the copyright is “bowlshit”. Having an official newspaper write that the copyright is “bowlshit” is just funny as hell. It’s a great joke. Before we wrap this up, is there anything you’d like to add? Any new stuff in the works? Yeah, there’s one thing I’m starting right now... it was planned for last year but because of the whole corona thing it got postponed... maybe for October or November of this year, anyway, I’m working on a photo book. I’m choosing the best photos from the past four or five years of skate photography and putting them in a book. I’ll probably try to do it through crowd funding or like a pre-sale. Just do one run, for the people who let me know they want it, and when it’s done, it’s done, no second edition. Sounds like a good idea. Be sure to let us know when you get that pre-sale going, we’ll help spread the word.
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Interview with Glen Jones, Photographer. | by Sebastião Belfort Cerqueira Swamp Ramps in Mississippi, punk rock in Minnesota, Glen Jones’ camera has been along for the ride since the early 80s. Now he’s in Portugal and he’s starting up an elementary school. Go sign your kids up. Before we get into skate photography, which I know you do because you like it, would you let us know what you do for a living? I’m a school teacher. I’m in Lisbon right now starting a new school. I’m an elementary Montessori school teacher. I’ve been doing that for about twenty-five years now. Montessori is a teaching method, right? It is a teaching method. It’s a very empowering teaching method for kids, it looks at the individual versus, you know, trying to teach the masses. It’s an educational approach that jibes really well with how I think teachers should teach. When I look back to all the great teachers I had growing up they all had these mannerisms and these ways of really looking at me as a person and not just another pupil. With Montessori that kind of mindset is ingrained in the approaches. I could talk on and on, do a whole interview about why I chose this as my field of work but it is a really good fit. I’m also trained as an archeologist, I was going down the route of being a professor and I found out I enjoyed working with children more than publishing and all that. I love digging in the dirt, I do it every time I can, I enjoy the fieldwork but I wasn’t cut out for the harsh reality of academia. I prefer my academia working with and inspiring young people. So, yeah, that’s that... now, skateboarding! Yeah, let’s get into it. Of course the first question is: when did you start? This all goes hand in hand with the photography. I had a skateboard as a young kid, around seven or eight, in the seventies when they were in the same shelf with the yo-yos and other toys. I had a drugstore board and I cruised around my driveway and the whole block. The eighties rolled by and I had a BMX bike and one day, probably about 81-82, a friend of mine said “You have to see this ramp where these guys are riding.” I went there and I was blown away. In this little town I grew up in, in Mississippi, Ocean Springs, not too far from New Orleans, there was this brilliant vert half-pipe and a couple of guys who were kingpins in the scene and who were really good. They were also the coolest guys ever, Dana Buck and Lindsey Kuhn. They are still in the skateboard world [Kuhn owns Conspiracy Skateboards]. So of course the next day I was showing up with my skinny seventies board and kind of getting laughed at, because they had the big pig boards, but I jumped right in, me and a few buddies. We were just inspired, so we got the bigger boards, put up with the razzing and became a part of that crew. We had a kind of Deep South Gulf Coast skater network in the eighties, going from New Orleans to St. Petersburg, Florida. Skateboarding was kind of dead and it was all backyard vert ramps. We had a really strong community and part of that was doing zines and shooting photos, so that’s where the camera came in. I liked to play around with a camera when I was little. I had this cheap little 35mm and after my dad saw that I had real interest he gave me his Nikon F, which was a really well-made camera, and I still have it, I still use it. Then, my oldest sister was a photo journalist and for my thirteenth birthday she brought me her old darkroom. My birthday gift was her setting it up and teaching me how to use it. All that came together at the right time, when we were all skating and I wanted to document it. I love photography. I can’t draw very well but I can shoot photos and it’s always been an output, so I have documentation of everything, from seeing my friends’ crusty little punk rock bands to going to skate contests, writing for zines and shooting for zines, plus the road trips that we all took. I got to be known as the guy with the camera. I still have all these negative files and covid has allowed me some time to start scanning more of them. When I grew up all the cool kids’ films were set in the fifties but now I realize the eighties have become this sort of mythical era for punk rock and skateboarding and people want to see these things. My girlfriend says I ought to write a book and get a real website going instead of just facebook or instagram. That’s something I look forward to doing but I don’t want to keep looking back, that’s for sure. Right now, I love supporting Trucks and Fins because they help get me around to these spots, to meet other skaters, and I’m pleased to take photos and try to help out in documenting skateparks, it’s a cool thing. I always bring my camera when we ride, I skate for half the time and take photos for half the time, probably more photography if I’m having an off session. "In this little town I grew up in, in Mississippi, Ocean Springs, not too far from New Orleans, there was this brilliant vert half-pipe and a couple of guys who were kingpins in the scene and who were really good. SEE PROFILE Do you still have a darkroom set up? Right now I have my changing bag and my development tanks and I scan the negatives. It’s a hybrid work form. I would like to get to a point where I could have a darkroom again because I do miss watching the images appear on the paper. But, you know, photography is such a thing... I do have my artsy side and I love capturing a good visual. But I guess if I had a style it would be not having one, I just like documenting everything. I haven’t had much instruction, mostly self-taught and my sister. When I was in high school I took a night class at a community college and was taught by an old, crusty photo journalist from Mobile, Alabama. He was chain-smoking I think even in the darkroom and was a crotchety old bastard but he was really good about his technique, he was all about the mechanics of it, really practical. I’ve done a few shows with my work. The most fun I’ve had with that was just before moving to Portugal a year and a half ago, in an upstairs gallery above my friend’s skate shop back in Minneapolis. I’d been shooting all these images for years so I did a show with about one hundred and sixty prints but it was all meant to be left there. I gave instructions to the owner of the shop to keep the show up for a month and then give the photos to all the guys that were in those shots. That was my “thank you, Minnesota and skateboarding”. I had all these images and I just wanted to give back to a scene that was so good to me. I’m getting really curious to see your older stuff. Because the photos you have on Trucks and Fins and on your instagram account struck me as being different from the usual skate photos. I don’t know if you’ve read the little essay I wrote on one of your photos, but I feel like there’s many where the skatepark is empty or maybe there’s someone riding but they’re not the focus of the picture at all, you get this overview where you can see the whole setting. I was wondering if that had anything to do with that joy of searching for and finding a new spot? Well, of course. I’d also say that stepping back and putting a skatepark or a scene into a larger perspective might be a more recent thing I’m doing. And I wasn’t really aware of that until you pointed it out but it has to do with that visual thrill of exploration and trying to put it into a context. It’s cool to be able to look at a park and be able to go “so that’s where it sits”. Instead of that one skater, that one rad trick, maybe as we get older we get a little bit more introspective and we see the bigger connection. But also being in Portugal, with the ocean right here, I’m sure that’s affecting the light. When I’m out I’m always noticing the colours and the light. So whenever I see that and I’m skating I always try to step back and be like “whoa, look at these trees in the background and the way it all ties together and everything.” Also, I’ve never had a super wide lens, so I’d have to lurk back a bit for fear of cropping limbs off or something and that might have had an effect on it. I think also for Trucks and Fins I tend to do that a bit more, but skateparks are amazing architectural features with all the lines and the curves and just trying to play around with that is fun. I was planning on asking you whether seeing pictures in skate mags had had any influence on you wanting to take pictures or whether it had more to do with just wanting to document stuff. I get it from your story that it was mostly the documenting side of it. Goodness, I had a little 110 Kodak camera in the seventies. I loved to just sneak around and take shots of my friends when they weren’t looking, you know, like playing spy. Later it was probably skateboarding and wanting to document that. And also wanting to fit in with the skateboarding crew. I was a bit younger and so I wanted a good reason to be around. Of course even after I got over these insecurities and I was skating with them I’d still always have a camera with me. I had a friend that used to laugh at me at shows and he’d say “yeah, next to the band, the guy with the camera is the next interesting person.” I was never able to play that up to my advantage. Right now I’m really anxious to be able to go out and get lost in all of Portugal’s nooks and crannies, and to the eastern part of the country where it’s drier and rolling, and of course if there’s a bowl or a half-pipe or some place to skate I’ll shoot that as well. There’s this writer called Elijah Wald, he has some really good books on the blues and on rock n’ roll. On one of them he says that he used to go to these dances when he was a kid and the guys who could dance always got all the girls. And so, as he couldn’t dance, he learned to play the guitar, which made him the next interesting guy. It’s kind of the same thing. Of course, who doesn’t want to feel cool like “oh, I’m documenting this”. But now being older I’m just happy I did it. I just scanned some old band shots this past weekend and I had some of Babes in Toyland. And I know Lori [Barbero] and all of them and they love it when I post old shots. It’s good that we have those memories and it’s different, because that’s what everyone has now with their phones and everything. Doing it back then it was a little more select, maybe a little more special. I don’t know what’s going to happen to this generation when they’re my age and they have so much from their past to look at. It’s good to look back but also to keep going forward. There are some things I love about digital, it doesn’t seem as enduring. It gets done and stored into a digital file that could very well disappear, where film to me has this real physical permanence. So when I do go out and take skate shots today, I take my film camera with me but I wait ‘til the session is really happening, then I go back to my old film skills, where I just want to get two or three really good shots. I’m not a film-only elitist at all, I know what I like and I enjoy shooting both. Right now I’m really anxious to be able to go out and get lost in all of Portugal’s nooks and crannies, and to the eastern part of the country where it’s drier and rolling, and of course if there’s a bowl or a half-pipe or some place to skate I’ll shoot that as well. It’s a good excuse to get around, right? You plan a roadtrip to go skate and have fun and you get to see the rest of it. Yeah, it’s a little harder now, when you get older, but it was really the calling card back then, when skateboarding wasn’t as massive. You would roadtrip and connect, you’d get a hold of people and crash on couches and skate their ramps or bowls. I’d say every third weekend we’d go somewhere else just to meet up with friends and do that. Today it’s a little harder, not just because I’m older, but because back then you had such a small scene that you were really excited to meet another skater. I went to visit my sister in Minneapolis in 1983. I was at a mall and had my “Skate and Destroy” Thrasher t-shirt and this kid came up to me and asked me if I was skater then looked down and checked my shoes to kind of make sure. He was like “we got a half-pipe down the road” and gave me his number because he knew from my accent I was from out of town. He did exactly the same things we were doing down south. He had a skatezine and a backyard vert ramp, you know, the whole eighties skate kit you had back then, but it opened a door and I met people at that session the next day that I’m still friends with now. Today I don’t know if it’s as easy to make these connections, but it’s still exciting and vibrant. I go to the park down here in Estoril [Parque das Gerações] and despite some of the park design issues and the maintenance or whatever, it’s a really vibrant scene. You see whole families there watching and skating and it’s very different from when I grew up, where if you were a skater you might as well be an alien. Of course we also liked that because it made us rebels but I like that it’s now being seen as a viable thing to do. There’s the downside that it gets marketed more but I’ll take the good with the bad. I also really like to see so many girls riding because for so long, skateboarding was such a boys’ club. When you get a bunch of teenage boys together talking smack, it’s sometimes not the most respectful atmosphere, so it’s good that there’s this balancing factor coming forward. When I started skating back in 99-2000, I never got deep enough into the skate scene where I got to travel and meet other skaters, but I know some people in Portugal have similar stories to yours. Still, to European eyes, there’s something about America being the place where it really happened, so there’s this sort of authenticity about your story that fascinates me, it’s like I’m watching the Nine Club. The funny thing is I came from a really small town that was not tied into the scene but we had some guys that lived there that had been around. And we were about five, six hours from Texas, that really influenced southern skateboarding. I don’t know if you remember Zorlac Skateboards, Craig Johnson, John Gibson, but these guys would drop by our town whenever they went off towards the East coast. There was a small scene but when you showed up to other people’s ramps sometimes you’d see these pros you saw in the magazines, like Monty Nolder or John Gibson, and you learned really quickly they were skateboarders just like you, they were accessible. So some of my favourite memories have to do with befriending some of these pros and getting to go on roadtrips with them. We did feel cool but, still, I wouldn’t sell Portugal or Europe short. Even when the magazines were coming out back in the day, we’d read Transworld and they’d always seem to have some freestylist from Iceland, there was always some ditchy-looking skatepark in England. And we knew of the Swedish [Eurocana] skate camp where the Mctwist was figured out on one of the first big transition ramps. Then Spain too. I had a friend from the States who moved to Barcelona and that’s all he could talk about – street skating in Barcelona in the early 2000’s, how everyone was showing up there to ride. So, you know, I’d say Europe is a player, it might not get in the limelight but the stories are there, and I’m sure Portugal stories are there too. I bet there are some guys around that can really tell what it was like. Because I come from Mississippi in what we called a backwater scene there was safety in numbers, we all hung out together in a tight community and I can only imagine Portugal has a similar story. As it wasn’t that mainstream I’m sure the people who did it were probably more dedicated, so, yeah, find those people, I want to hear those stories. I do have my artsy side and I love capturing a good visual. But I guess if I had a style it would be not having one, I just like documenting everything. Yeah, it’s true, I’ve recently interviewed the skatepark builder João Sales and he sort of told me a similar story to yours, set here in Portugal. Speaking of skateparks, I’d like to go into your punk rock photography, but first I have to ask you about this skatepark you shot. It’s the weirdest skatepark I’ve seen, it’s fascinating and it just looks unskateable. Do you remember the Samora Correia skatepark? Oh that one! It is unskateable. I don’t know if [T&F co-founder] Haroun told you my idea: in doing this tour we found some skateparks that are completely unskateable and that is the top one. What we need to do is have a Triple Crown Event over a couple of weekends, invite all the skaters over to ride these bad skateparks, and that one would be the crown jewel. Whoever designed that skatepark had no idea, no clue, and if you can do anything on it, you’re a great skater. It really is amazing. I’m thinking Salvador Dali designed it. Because you get to recognize the features that you’d think naturally belong in a skatepark, like rails and stairs, but they’re all in the wrong places. It’s a surrealist skatepark. I thought it was meant to be ironic. We just sat there for fifteen minutes looking at all the lines that could never happen. It was funny, but it’s also a sad commentary. Obviously that town had good intentions, I don’t want to be insulting nor mock people, but maybe next time they could talk with some skateboarders first. That park is so humorously wrong that you kind of have to go there just to get a good laugh. Yeah, I think it would be hilarious to throw a contest there to see what anyone could do. It would be fun, and it would also bring attention to better skatepark design. Any more questions? Yeah, I’d like to get into the rock n’ roll part now. I saw some gear shots on your instagram page. Are you in a band? Oh man, I used to be in a lot of bands. Once again, back in the eighties that was part of the whole skatepunk kit. You either got a bass or a guitar, I happened to be handed a bass. That was part of the image, I guess. In 1985 I was in a little punk rock band called Spastic Fury. I played with other things off and on, throughout the nineties, and I think my last gig with any sort of semblance of a group was about five years ago. I still play, I have a studio right here, with my amps and my instruments. Music for me is like a model train, I do it for my enjoyment and if I can pull it together and play something out live and people like it, great. One thing that excites me is that there are some really great musicians in Portugal. I’ve been following Tó Trips and I got to see the Dead Combo on what was going to be one of their last tours and then I saw his new band [Club Makumba]. His solo stuff – I love the dusty guitar, I love what he’s doing with all the variations... it’s Iberian, there’s some spaghetti western in there but there’s also a Portuguese sound. And then his new project, that drummer, wow, there’s something like these old Portuguese colonies sounds creeping in, these polyrhythms... it’s an interesting melting pot. So, yeah, I do look forward to meeting some musicians and throw some ideas around. I was lucky to have some great musicians back home that I played with over the years. Those music scenes in the eighties and nineties were much like the skate scene, there was a community there. Again, with the camera I could have a foot in the door and then they’d find out I played bass as well and the next thing you know I got set up in a band or two. I probably have as much music stuff and band shots from that era as I do skateboarding. I was lucky to have some great musicians back home that I played with over the years. Those music scenes in the eighties and nineties were much like the skate scene, there was a community there. Did you get to shoot any bands you really really liked? Oh yeah... I mean, who didn’t love Fugazi? I caught their first tour camera in hand. But the funny thing is, when I first moved to Minnesota, after high school, I was living in this punk rock house and bands were always crashing on our couch. Once there was a band coming from California and they were having a hard time getting a gig in town. They ended up playing in my friends Chad and Josh’s basement for about twenty of us, and that was Green Day. And that’s actually where the singer met his future wife Adrienne. She was this cool, punk rock... well, goddess, if you will. Small world, her brother is Steve Nesser, the old Birdhouse pro, and that’s how close these scenes are. Lots of overlap. But yeah, I do have some band shots like that. I’m trying to think of bands I like... I’ve got a couple of good, crusty shots of Mark E. Smith in one of his many reincarnations of The Fall. Phenomenal... There’s a club in Minneapolis called the 7th Street entry, it’s an institution, and there’s a corner next to the stage where there’s a little bit of brick sticking out and you can stand on that with your heels and lean up against one of the bass monitors in the ceiling and kind of wedge yourself in there. For about three or four years when I was first living there and going to shows religiously, that was my corner and so I have many shots from that tight corner, looking out at bands. So yeah, I guess I love music too. And maybe if I did one thing, I could catch up and actually finish one thing. Of course my main work has been my profession, which is teaching. The skateboarding I love, I still do, not as much as I’d like to. The bass playing I enjoy, I plug in about every other day, occasionally I write my own melodies and songs. And yes there’s the photography. Maybe if I quit three of those and just focus on one I could finish something. I’m sure when the time comes and I kick the bucket I’m gonna have fifty unfinished projects and that’ll be my epitaph “almost got it done but...” I’m sure that won’t happen. But it’s a cheery note to wrap this up on. Is there anything you’d like to add? I covered a lot of ground, thank you for the opportunity, because I haven’t talked about this stuff in a long time. But I’m happy to share and if after seeing my photos you have any more questions, just let me know. Thanks, Glen.
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Interview with Daniel Yábar, Skatepark Architect. | by Sebastião Belfort Cerqueira Daniel Yábar’s skatepark designs have drawn much attention, revealing an unusual sensitivity to textures, colours, and surrounding spaces. In this interview he lets us know how his architectural ethos has more to do with giving the people what they need than necessarily creating masterpieces. I’ve had the chance to read about your process of becoming an architect and designing skateparks in other interviews you’ve done, but I haven’t found one where you tell the other side of that story, that is, how you became a skater. Where and when did you start? I started skating in Logroño, the capital of the Spanish region of La Rioja. I think I started when I was thirteen, more or less, after seeing the movie Thrashin’ [1986] with my friends. We decided we should see if we could get some skateboards. I found this Sancheski orange cruiser and that was my first step. Then we always went to the only place around that seemed skateable at all, the Plaza del Espolón. It’s a square in the centre of Logroño, where people still go to skate today. We didn’t do anything, we just cruised. Not much later we saw a guy there doing an ollie, just going up a little step, just jumping and landing and we were like “wow!” That was the beginning. Logroño is a small town but there was a big boom in skateboarding. Suddenly there were like three or four different crews of people skating on different routes. That meant like 50 or 60 people skating in Logroño. The city was pretty small so we hung out all over the city, I mean, we knew the city to the millimitre, we knew each spot, each little place... We’d go all around the city, to the industrial park, pretty much everywhere just finding places to skate. So you had a little skate scene in Logroño, that’s pretty cool. When was that, like the late 80s? I think I was thirteen so... I’d say around 91. But we were the first generation in Logroño that ever skated. People there didn’t understand it, they’d be like “what are you kids doing here with those things?” I’m still friends with some of the guys I started skating with and some of them haven’t stopped skating. I live in Madrid now, but when I go to Logroño to visit my parents I still get to hang out with them and with the new generations. "We knew the city to the millimitre, we knew each spot, each little place... VISIT WEBSITE I know you began designing skateparks as a trade after spending some years in another architect’s studio. That was some years ago, how long have you had your own studio? I finished college in 2004, I think, yeah I’m pretty sure. I spent four years in that studio in Bilbao. They did a lot of singular projects, like wineries, football stadiums, bullrings, etc. The head of the studio was an architect from Bilbao called Diego Garteiz and he knew I was a skateboarder so he told me that if I knew of any skate-related projects, any skateparks or anything, that he’d be open to work on them in the studio. I did three or four skateparks in the studio, but then I moved to Madrid, I’d say around 2008. So you’ve been on your own for over ten years now. I was looking at your website and all the projects you have there are of skateparks or skate plazas – do you still do typical architect stuff, like houses and offices and so on? Well... sometimes I get some different projects. I designed the offices for the football federation of La Rioja, I also did the project for a local medical centre in a small town near Logroño, but, I mean, when you go down the way of a certain specialization, you have to let go of some of the other stuff. In the beginning you try to work as much as you can, but now I’m more focused on skateparks. I don’t know how to express this idea of specialization better. I guess in architecture, when you know how to design skateparks or houses, it doesn’t mean that you know how to design hospitals or stuff like that. So nowadays if someone offered me a project for a house I’d probably have to refuse it or refer them to a friend. Then that means that you can have your studio running on skatepark projects, that must be a cool feeling. Well, most of the projects are about the skatepark, but many of them include compatible uses, landscaping, integration with city planning. Sometimes you design a skatepark but it has to include an outdoor gym or a fitness trail, sometimes it’s not just a skatepark but it has to be a bike park too, or a garden... but yeah, all things surrounding a skatepark. Many architects who have their own firms will say they only do their kind of singular designs, and maybe ten years from now I’ll be able to say something like that, but right now I think the skaters have to come first. Do you have a team working with you? I work on my own. In Spain we have a saying that helps me explain this: quien mucho abarca poco aprieta. [Don’t bite off more than you can chew.] Yeah, I guess we have a similar one in Portuguese. What about the building part, do you have anything to do with the people who end up building the parks you’ve designed? It depends on the management model. Many times the owner, the council, whoever is in charge only wants the design to begin with. Then they organize a public tender and the builders have to submit their proposals. That’s the most common model in Spain. Sometimes they say “ok, we want it designed and built”, and so the architects and engineers collaborate with the builders and submit joint proposals to the same tender. Looking at your portfolio, one could say you have both the more traditional kind of skatepark and then the ones that I understand have drawn more attention to your work, which are more integrated into the urban landscape. Which of your projects do you feel blends in better with its surroundings? I think a good example would be the one in Santa Cruz, in La Granja. Maybe also the skateplaza in Logroño or the Santa Lucia skatepark, in Vitoria. But it’s not that big of a deal for me. I’m not prejudiced in favour of the unique design, integrated kind of skatepark nor the more traditional, sports facility-type ones. It depends on the goals of the project. If the skaters or the council are asking you for a functional skatepark, it’s very egocentric of you to say “no no no, I don’t do traditional, I only make singular designs”, like you want to be the architect-designer. If they’re asking you for a traditional skatepark with a simple and functional design, then that’s what you have to give them. Many architects who have their own firms will say they only do their kind of singular designs, and maybe ten years from now I’ll be able to say something like that, but right now I think the skaters have to come first. Places like Macba or Love Park are huge, they’re massive. Five times larger than most skateparks. How can you compete with that? I get it. Actually I was thinking that it must be rare to get the opportunity to turn a regular city square into a skateplaza. How does that happen? Did you ever have to convince the people from city council, were they looking for that in the first place? At some point, as an architect, you have the obligation to give the best possible advice to the skaters and decision makers. As an architect and a skater I have to tell them what I think is best. Sometimes they’ll say “no, I know what I want, I want a traditional, concrete skatepark, with fences around it.” I may try to tell them that that’s not the way skateboarding and contemporary skateparks are going, but they have the final say. Sometimes the local skaters and the local authorities know about skateboarding and where it’s headed, so you don’t really have to give them much advice. It depends on the project. I remember the case in Santiago de Compostela. The skaters were skating this plaza for years that is not exactly in the centre but still in a good part of the city, behind the Galician Parliament. They had conflicts with the neighbours and people walking around with their kids and everything, so city hall wanted to take them out of there, build them a standard skatepark outside the city. The local skaters’ association tried to fight to stay in the plaza but the council wasn’t having it so they had to arrive at a compromise. The plaza was in this big park, inside of which we managed to find another plaza with granite floor that was completely abandoned. We did a little street course with rails and stuff, so in the end they had the same granite surface to skate and although they weren’t in the original plaza, which was skatestopped, they only had to move like 15 metres away from it. Do you think that in the near future there’ll be a bigger overall sensitivity towards the benefits of having skateparks in livelier parts of the city, instead of being confined to urban voids? I think there’s already some awareness and some sensitivity, as you say. Not only on the side of the skateboarding communities but also with the decision makers. When you are dealing with these decision makers, you find a little bit of everything. You find some people who are really well-informed and really know what the people want and then you find others that have no idea what we’re talking about. I think there is more awareness and, as time goes on, people learn about these things, also because of the olympics. People in general are more interested in skateboarding now that they’ve heard that it’s going to be an olympic sport, so they’re trying to figure out what it’s all about, what the skateboarding communities are looking for in terms of facilities and everything. I feel in general there is more and more knowledge about what skateboarders need. Well, one thing is for sure, I think your skatepark designs really help in bridging that gap. If I was going to meet with city council tomorrow to get a skatepark built I know I’d take some pictures of your designs to show them how architecturally and visually rich a skatepark can become. [Laughs] Thank you. Moving on, does it ever happen to you, when you’re just walking around a city, that you look at some place and you immediately think it would be a perfect spot to transform into a skatepark? Yeah, sure. It happens to me but I’m sure it happens to all the skatepark designers. It comes with the profession. Still, many times you see a really cool spot in the street and then, when you want to bring it into a skatepark design, you realize that this spot needs a lot of space. Nowadays skatepark design is going through a standardization, where every distance between features is really measured and so on. So when you see a cool spot that you’d like to adapt, often you find out you need a lot more space than you have, and if you need more space that means you won’t have room for all the standard features, you know, the hubba, the eurogap, the manual pad... You might have to sacrifice your whole design just because you found an amazing spot in some street in some city... it’s not as easy as it seems. For example, in the Santiago plaza I was telling you about I included a reproduction of a famous street spot, this handraill in Málaga. It’s like a long ramp, then you have three stairs and there’s a long rail alongside. So when you get to the three stairs you can slide the end of the rail. This spot is amazing, it’s near the sea, this long, blue rail. Lots of pros have skated it. The thing is the ramp is so long you really need space if you’re going to try to reproduce it. However, in this case, in Santiago, I was working with one stipulation: that the skateplaza would be pedestrian-friendly. In order to make it safe for pedestrians, I had to follow the Spanish accessibility laws. Of course that ramp in Málaga was built according to these norms, because it’s in a public street. That, plus the shape of the area we were working with, made it possible to reproduce the street spot. skateparks by Daniel Yábar La Granja Skatepark Skateplaza Logroño Santa Lucia skatepark Jerez skatepark Antoniutti skatepark See all skateparks I was wondering, if you could choose any place in any city, maybe even a famous skate spot like Love Park or Macba, to make a project for, which would it be? Well... the ones you’ve said are some of the more internationally recognized... but for example, the Macba plaza... you’re talking about 5000 square metres. The average skatepark will have an area closer to 1000 square metres, so the plaza is like five times bigger. It’s really difficult. But actually once I had this idea for the main space in Macba, where you have the long ledge and the gap, just by the entrance to the museum. I thought it would be pretty cool if it were a symmetrical spot. Because you have the ledge on one side and it determines what tricks you can do whether you’re regular or goofy, so it would be great if you had the same ledge on the other side. But anyway, places like Macba or Love Park are huge, they’re massive. Five times larger than most skateparks. How can you compete with that? Just that main area of Macba is 1000 square metres. If you design a whole skatepark with just a ledge, a gap, and a low-to-high... well, people want more stuff. Speaking of wanting more stuff, I have to ask you if there’s anything that you’re working on that we can know about, maybe something going into construction or about to open to the public? Right now I’m working on the design for a skatepark bowl, in Tenerife, near La Granja. The city organized an opinion poll and they asked me for two designs: one was a granite skateplaza, the other was a bowl. So they had this poll and the bowl won. Actually, I find that a little unexpected. I mean, here in Portugal the tendency is always more towards street skating. I’m pretty sure the street course would win here. In this case the bowl won but I think because in Tenerife you already have some good street plazas. And also because you have a lot of surfers, you get people there that are into surfing or longboarding and those guys will also get in the pool to skate. I guess it wasn’t just skaters, the surfers may have helped to tip the scale. Very well. Would you like to add anything to wrap this up? Well... I don’t know... maybe I’d just like to go back to that idea we were talking about: I really don’t feel that all skateparks need to be this special, singular design that blends in perfectly with the urban landscape, but I’m also not of the opinion that they should be a detached, enclosed sports facility kind of thing. Both options are ok if they serve the needs of that particular community. If you ask me, I’d say the direction skateboarding is taking leans more towards the integrated kind of skatepark that is a part of the city, that is built with the city. That’s the opinion I think most skateboarders have... but you need everything. The city needs everything: the sports facility for training and competitions and the olympics and Street League, but also the plaza in the town, integrated into the life of the city. The ideal would be to have everything. Yeah, I guess that would be perfect. Thank you very much, Daniel. Thank you.
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Interview with João Sales, Wasteland Skateparks. | by Sebastião Belfort Cerqueira A skater since the late 80s, João Sales grew up deeply rooted in the Portuguese skate scene. Check out what he has to tell us about DIY spots, how to get a skatepark built in your town, some of the cool parks he has built along the way, and a bunch of other stuff. Let’s start from the beginning: When did you start skating? I started in ’89, when I was thirteen. My next door neighbour had a board that had belonged to his cousin who didn’t use it anymore, so we both shared that same board. I loved the experience of riding it, so I convinced my mother to get me a board for christmas. From that point on it was just meeting new people, finding out what we had in common and following the skateboarding adventure. I still haven’t stopped. And where was this? In Leiria, I’m from Leiria. I’m assuming that back then there would be nothing close to a skatepark around your area. There were already some ramps around here. Some guys had already built a couple of ramps around the town. There was one in a neighbourhood kind of far away from my house that I didn’t even know of [until later] and there were these guys who lived next to a school who also had some small ramps. That’s where we started to get together and to get to know each other. "That really inspired me and that was how I grew up. VISIT WASTELAND WEBSITE How about your first skatepark experience, where did you first find one? Skatepark... I would say probably Pedrouços. Yeah, I’d say a proper skatepark, for the first time, Pedrouços. Though here in Leiria they eventually brought the mini ramp from the other neighbourhood over to a more central part of town, close to the city swimming pools, and the city council got a half-pipe built, so from that point on we had like a ramp compound. Let’s call it our skatepark, which was made up exclusively of quarterpipes and mini ramps. This was around 1990-91. Maybe I should add that one of the things that influenced me the most was watching these older skaters who were so active. They got inspiration from what little skate scene there was in Portugal at the time - there was hardly any national coverage of skateboarding - but whatever they saw they brought back to Leiria and they would just get to work. That really inspired me and that was how I grew up. That reminds me of something I had planned to ask you later on, but I might as well just ask you now: what tips would you give to someone who really wanted to get a skatepark built in his or her area? Should they go directly to city council, should they first talk to a skatepark builder and get a cost estimate, where do you start? I’d say the first thing to do is to join efforts, to get a working team together. So if someone doesn’t have a skatepark in their city, the first thing is to find other people that share that same need. And then you try to look for people who may not be skaters or bmxers or whatever but who hold the same views, people who feel that the skatepark would be positive for their community and who are able to explain the benefits such a venue would bring to the community. Then, once you’ve put all this together, you try to reach the decision makers. It’s usually the city council, but it might be another entity, a private one for example. Then you ask for their help in assembling the conditions for building a skatepark and later, yeah, you can provide them with some skatepark specialists’ names for the building part. I mean, before that comes the designing part, because it’s important to understand exactly who you’re making a skatepark for before building it. We can’t build a skatepark like the one in Belmonte where there is no one in the community to ride that sort of thing. Of course. Now, getting back on track and following what you were telling me about the ramps when you were a kid, how did you get into building skateparks and when was Wasteland Skateparks born? That was a long process. We never stopped building things in Leiria. City council was barely helping at all. We knew there was this Powell-Peralta tour coming through Portugal, there would be a demo in Lisboa and one in Porto and a couple of days in between with nothing scheduled, so we convinced the council to build a half-pipe inside this pavillion to hold a demo. There we had quite a bit of support and help and we got the demo to happen. When the half-pipe was dismantled we planned to put it back together by the city pools, where we had all the mini ramps. Unfortunately someone stole our sheets of plywood and we never got past the structure. Then with no kind of warning the council just had everything destroyed overnight, even the mini ramps which were fine, so we were left with nothing to skate. We didn’t really resign ourselves to that and we kept skating and building small ramps here and there, and eventually we got a chance to take the ramps into this pavillion and share it with other sports, like with a schedule and everything. From there we went to this other pavillion that had no walls, we had some help from Radical Skate Clube, who donated some ramps they didn’t use. From there we went to another one, owned by this local association, who took us in, and we founded Vidigal, which was the only indoor skatepark in Portugal at the time, in the early 2000s. We would build and mend ramps but eventually there was no one left to look over the venue and it was closed down. We kept building ramps and by this time we were making them in concrete, I had learned how to mix concrete and we built like a jersey barrier. We built it in this dead end road where there was an abandoned construction site we knew would be there for some years. It was under a bridge, we used the barrier between the lanes and made a little cement run-up. We built some bumps and created an access to the inclined planes under the bridge so we kind of had our own little skatepark, far from everyone’s sight. Then this Emerica Europe tour came by, with Ricardo Fonseca, Ed (Helder Lima), Pontus Alv and some others and they really liked skating our spot. Pontus Alv told me I had to watch their video because they were doing the same kind of thing in Sweden but already on a different scale, and I watched it, and that’s when I realized I could build skateparks with my own hands. All you had to do was get the community together and it could happen, and that’s when Cerâmica came about. It was an abandoned brick factory, and all that’s left standing is the kiln, which is lined with bricks and sand so all we needed was to buy the cement to mix everything and make concrete ramps. We built it on the weekends, among friends, and while we were doing it I lost my job - I had worked for sixteen years on car parts. Around that time came a call from Lisboa inviting us to build a bowl in Alvalade, which we did, still without any real expertise and kind of winging it. I did it with my friend Nuno Cainço who still works with me and who started skating with me in the early 90s. I’d rather feel that someone is just skating, with no plan, and we’re being shown an excerpt of that, like the feeling you got from watching Tommy Guerrero skating street in the late 80s. That spot, Cerâmica, can it still be skated? Yes, to this day. It started around 2009. I still go there every now and then to fix some holes and roll around a bit. I might add that Cerâmica has been featured on the cover of a magazine and in various ads, even in American magazines. Now, on to different things. There’s this idea that I find interesting when people talk about skateparks and that’s that there are some that “flow” better than others. If you had to try and explain this idea of a skatepark having a particular flow, what would you say? It’s a tough question. It depends. I think skateparks are like street spots. It has to do with how you interpret that space. I’d say here in Portugal we may still have to get used to riding different types of skateparks in order to get to the level that we see elsewhere. Because one of the main things about skateboarding that was left behind for many years is knowing how to roll on a skateboard, not just doing tricks and lines, but adapting yourself to the terrain you’re on, whether it be a downhill street or a flat sidewalk, the way your body rolls on that type of terrain. In Portugal for many years most skaters were trying to compete and land tricks and get scores and kind of left the basics behind. That confidence of being able to go fast on a skateboard down a street was lost along the way. And that’s the kind of skill you have to take into a skatepark in order to interpret it differently, maybe leave aside the difficult flip tricks and just roll around the park, trying not to push and using the ramps in order to flow through the park. I really agree with that. It has to do with different types of skaters. I’m most interested in watching skaters that are not just doing single tricks and not even lines. A line is like a sequence with beginning and end. I’d rather feel that someone is just skating, with no plan, and we’re being shown an excerpt of that, like the feeling you got from watching Tommy Guerrero skating street in the late 80s. You kind of feel that the magic of skateboarding has to do with how you explore your surroundings and inscribe yourself into all of their shapes and patterns. Yeah and obviously some skateparks call for that sort of skating more than others but it really has to do with the type of skater that’s going to use the park. We usually build skateparks with quite a bit of transition and there are skaters that don’t even use the ramps, they just skate flat. The park has its potentialities but it’s up to each one to decide if they’re going to make the most of them. I’d say usually older skaters will develop a tendency to leave the technical tricks aside and go for a more fluid approach. It’s more fun than trying a really hard trick for hours and leaving frustrated. But it has to do with what you want and how you want to spend that moment you have for skating. I’d say the essence of skateboarding is carving and many people don’t realize that. They don’t even loosen their trucks enough to be able to carve. Of course, because it’s way easier to kickflip when your board isn’t tipping all over the place. Moving on to your working process: how does it go, do you have everything figured out in your plans or do you leave stuff to be decided on the spot and as you’re building? It varies according to each project. Some we start and everything is already settled, the budget is final, and we know there’s practically no room for changing anything. Others we walk into with a blank sheet and we can do whatever we feel like. It has to do with the client, the location, the budget too, usually. We did Boobie Trap in Barreiro and the first time we worked there we had a fixed budget but no plan whatsoever as to what we were going to do, so it was just skater talk at the spot that defined what was going to be built, and that’s really satisfying. And how about that thing we all kind of have, as skaters, of reading the city in terms of skate spots, like looking at stuff and thinking that some skater we know could probably do a trick there, do you get that? Like looking at stuff and thinking “this would make for a cool feature in this park I’m designing”? Oh yeah. And not just in the city. I go for walks in these woods close to where I live and I see all sorts of organic shapes, like enbankments and inclines, that I think would be great for a skatepark. And when we’re given the freedom to build those things out of concrete it’s just magical. Yeah, I had sort of figured from your website that you liked building stuff that flowed organically along continuous lines. But I’ve only skated one park built by you guys, the one in Santo André, and that one is a bit different. I was there yesterday. They asked us to do a little work there, a couple of improvements. We’re soon giving the city council a cost estimate. The central feature of that skatepark is a perfect example of what we were talking about. It was the only thing we designed in that skatepark because the overall design was done by Luís Fortes. There was some free space in the centre and so we took inspiration from a sand dune and built this unique object that has a kind of transition on one side and a pyramid spine on the other. They skate it a lot and they really like it, which makes us very proud, because we really enjoyed building it. I can tell you I took some pretty good slams trying to figure out how to skate it some years ago. And what about imagining a certain skater using the stuff you’re creating? Does that happen to you when you’re building a skatepark? Yeah, of course. Sometimes we’re looking at a certain transfer and we’re thinking “this guy is going to come here and is sure to hit this” and sometimes we’re surprised. People we wouldn’t even dream about come to our parks and just come up with stuff that is completely out of the box. That must be a cool feeling. It’s a really good feeling. When we were working on Boobie Trap there was this transfer that we used to talk about and be like “nah, I don’t think anyone is going to try this” and then Danny León came by to film a little video for Red Bull and on the first day he was there he did the transfer, which means going from this spine onto this other ramp that kind of looks like a sausage lying down. That brings me to another question, which is linked to that idea we touched on earlier of a skater knowing how to adapt to his surroundings: I think this feeling that adapting plays a central role in skateboarding is behind that sort of unwritten philosophy among skateboarders that a skatepark is a place to learn and warm-up but the streets are where it really counts. What do you think? I don’t know. I think people should skate wherever they feel like. Skateboarding came from the streets and I don’t feel like we should take it out of the streets. Plus it’s more visible on the streets and if you’re filming or shooting photos it’s more challenging to do it in that sort of natural environment we call street. As skaters we tend to give more props to something that’s done on the streets. That being said, if you can land some really hard trick in the park you can probably do it on the streets and vice versa. Only, there are features that you don’t really find too often outside of skateparks. At least here in Portugal. I’m thinking of pools for example. We don’t build bowl-shaped swimming pools so if you want to get good at skating pools you have to know someone who has a skate bowl in their backyard or go to a public skatepark. But I feel what’s most important is just skating, anything goes. Sure. At the same time, I get the feeling that we’re currently going through this sort of technical boom, with people doing harder and gnarlier things on a skateboard than ever, because we’re watching a generation that had more access to skateparks than previous ones. Would you agree? I would. Skateparks are safe places and meeting points where you can just have a session and be sure there will be someone there to hype you up or help you out with a hard trick. You can take a couple of friends on a street session but there that’s all you have. At a skatepark you progress quickly and safely, on the streets it’s harder. You have timings, you may get kicked out or there may be a car parked in the way, there are many things that can stop you from progressing out on the streets. But yeah, I feel that kids today have it easier when it comes to progressing. Also because there’s a lot more information than there used to be. Yeah. And nowadays with all the videos you can find online... I remember looking at the trick tips section in some magazine as a kid and it was just a photo sequence with captions that I felt told me next to nothing. There’s nothing like learning a trick in person, from someone who’s doing it. The level of skating went up in Portugal, particularly since around 2000, because you could finally find someone who was already pro skating there in front of you. When you went into a pavillion for a contest and those people were in front of you you picked up all sorts of things. I remember this contest where Ed, who was like six at the time, asked me how to do a front board. He learned it right then, I just told him to align his shoulders with the rail and look to where he was going to come off the rail and he got it and used it in his run. He knew how to keep in touch with people who could skate and give him the right hints, like Ricardo Fonseca and others, and he grew as a skateboarder. "we got to develop strong ties with the people involved and that doesn’t have anything to do with what ramps we built there, those are links we’ll keep for life." Now, coming back to the relation between skatepark and city streets, I was looking at the work of this skatepark designer called Daniel Yábar and most of his stuff is way more integrated into the city planning than what we have here. Most of our skateparks are usually in some corner where they’re not in the way of the average citizen and there are well-defined boundaries between them and the rest of the city. Do you think the approach of blending the skatepark with the cityscape is a newer tendency? And is it a good thing? I think it’s good. I think that happens in his case because Daniel Yábar is a skater. He wanted to bring street elements into the skatepark, even in terms of the type of materials you can use, so that he comes to the point of camouflaging the skatepark. So if no one is skating it, the place just looks like a normal city square, but everything is built with the proper dimensions and all the characteristics that make skateparks perfect for progressing. I think that’s really interesting. Me too. But unfortunately I feel like that’s the kind of thing that would be very hard to do here. I feel like most city councils would rather have the skatepark and skateboarders out of the way than in a really central and live part of the town. The toughest part is getting people to join your cause. If you need that place to exist you have to convince the decision makers that it is a worthy enterprise. Nowadays we need that kind of space closer to where people live. I’m not talking about small cities like Leiria, but in places like Lisboa and Porto there are people who spend hours in traffic just trying to get out of town to go skate a public skatepark in the suburbs. If that park was more central, even kids would be able to frequent it more while at the same time being closer to other people, to the area’s residents. They would eventually learn to respect each other, because it would be easier for skaters to interact with non-skaters. In public squares there are usually dead spots, areas nobody uses. If those areas are given life by skaters they’ll not only drive away people with less noble intentions but also attract other people that just enjoy watching the skaters and hanging out. I think that’s good for the cities and you need to let the local authorities know that, and also that there are people who can do that type of work: not just building skate ramps, but building obstacles or sculptures that are good for skating but may be enjoyed by any passerby. skateparks by wasteland ramps São Pedro da Cadeira São Pedro do Sul Trinitat Boobie Trap Navarcles See all skateparks Yeah, I definitely feel like the tendency in Portugal has been towards the more ghettoized skatepark. But then there are places where the opposite happens and a really cool atmosphere develops, I’m thinking about Parque das Gerações, which is not only in a cool place with a nice view but also has the conditions for non-skaters and skaters’ families to hang out and feel comfortable. Yeah, but Parque das Gerações is different. There you have private enterprise alongside the public investment. The council payed for the ramps and the access roads but then you have a private shop and a cafe that manage the place. When that happens you have the perfect conditions for people to hang out and skate and progress. On the other hand, when all you have is an empty skatepark, like the one in Expo, where there have been some attempts at getting a concession going but it just never happened... there was no private enterprise there and when that happens the place will eventually die out and be forgotten. We should be wrapping this up but I’d still like to ask you if you have a favourite Wasteland project and why? Well, each project has its particular charms. On many we got to develop strong ties with the people involved and that doesn’t have anything to do with what ramps we built there, those are links we’ll keep for life. One of the projects that was really meaningful for us was this bowl we built at [Portuguese skater] Guelas’ place. We teamed up with these Belgian builders to make it and they taught us how to polish concrete. Everything that happened there opened many doors and new opportunities for us. From there we moved on to the Boobie Trap, where this skater set aside some money he got from one of his sponsors in order to be able to build ramps with his friends. That was really special, we were taken in by this local skate and surf association with whom we’ve remained good friends. Another cool one was at Clive [Chadwick]’s house. He’d been wanting to get a bowl in his backyard for some time and he got many people who build skateparks around Europe to meet up at his place and build it. It was great for us because we made all these new acquaintances and learned a lot. There are many examples, but the friendships you develop are definitely what matters the most. What about the future, do you have many plans, anything that you’re particularly hyped on? We have some projects on paper that are already going through what you might call the official motions. Also some proposals to make and two small bowls that we’ll begin building pretty soon. I can’t really say too much about the projects we have on paper because we still haven’t gotten the final thumbs-up, so we’re not sure the parks are going to be built, but I’m thinking they’ll go from paper to reality sooner rather than later. Those are good news. I hope you start building as soon as possible, so that we’ll have some more pins to add to Trucks and Fins, which means somewhere somebody has a new spot to skate. Thanks a lot, João. Anything you’d like to add? I’d like to thank all my team, all of them skaters. I don’t have enough words to thank them for their continuous efforts, designing, building, but also when we have to stay home because there’s no work and they manage to stay positive and push through. I can’t find the words to thank them enough for that. I’d also like to thank my familly, who’s always supported me, all our clients and friends, who have made so many projects possible, and you and the Trucks and Fins team, for the work you’re doing. Thank you, João.
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August 10, 2022 Zut. It's the Basque word for ‘vertical’, which can be used for almost all kind of stuff that's vertical. Even that too, explains Txus Domínguez with a naughty smile. CEO of Zutskateparks, a Spanish builder, who started his journey with La Kantera and since then has been involved in the construction of more than 100 skateparks all over the place. If we want to guess how skateparks will look like in the future, this is one of the guys with a crystal ball. His prediction? A mix of styles at the same spot. "I like skateparks where everything flows. A good chaos." ZUTSkateparks You have been involved in the construction of more than 100 skateparks in many countries. Did it all start with La Kantera? It all started when I was a kid and started making wooden ramps. We did that because of our natural restlessness. Then came La Kantera and before I knew it a thousand copies were made of it and I told myself: ‘I have to do more’. The La Kantera bowl was my first project of this magnitude and I never stopped since. Do you keep finding mistakes made when building skateparks? It’s a shitty thing. Designing skateparks is quite cool, but working with some city halls can be crazy. For many of them it’s just about politics. They don’t care if it has real quality or not. Sometimes the most important thing is to make it just to show off. Yes, they are some who think logically, but most of them think differently. How is that? It happened with me. I was asked by an architect to design a skatepark in Madrid. He was handling all the talks with the City Hall, but because he didn’t know nothing about skateboarding, he told me a public tender would be held, respecting the criteria. A bigger company came, presented a smaller price, and won the project. Two months of hard work went to the gutter. So, is it hard to compete with the majors? The thing is many of those majors are general constructors, they are not specialized in skateparks. Yes, they are very good companies, but I’m talking about those who reduce the price sometimes to half of it, killing the market. And why do they offer so little to build it? Because the workers are poorly paid, they do not have the necessary skills and the result mostly turns out to be a disaster. That is when they come to me, to try to solve the problem. Doing that, will increase the final cost and it will end up being much more than before others tried to reduce the price to "win" the project. How do you think skateparks will look like in the next 15/20 years, considering how the skate scene has evolved since the 80’s? I hope skateboarding continues to evolve in the next years. We saw what happened in the last 40 years with the appearance of half pipes, bowls; simple circuits that became more complex. Now we see a mix between street and flow. I think it works fine at the Olympics. This could evolve to something… I don’t know if it could be a blend of big and small, a mix between bowls and street… you name it. Are you working on a new skatepark concept? I’m putting pure skate aside and working with surf and skate parks. They are organic shapes with "dunes". It’s not just for surfers, people who think that are wrong. They are transitions from where they can jump, there is a street line too where they can ride and do some flips… I have made that in Galicia. You have dunes where you can do some snaps, it’s easier, it’s like doing a coping with no grinds. You can do grabs and whatsoever. It’s a place where surfers can do aerials, grabs, where you can do fast street, mixing all these lines and styles. I made one of these in France, an indoor park where the under-20 surf national team works. I’m now building one in Galicia, with miniramps that turns into mini dunes at the rear, where the corners are curved. Everything flows. Everything mixed… I don’t like "linear" skateboarding. The street section at the Olympics looks nice, but it looks better to me if a rider gets out his board, flows around and doesn't stop. It’s like in the old days when we had total freedom on the streets, when everything was improvised, a good and nice chaos. So, more transition and less street… Surf/skate parks are growing everywhere, but I can’t say if this will be the future. Let’s see. There’s a park in Stockholm I would like to visit, it’s like a dish, they mix many concepts. From the first draw to choosing materials: what is the ideal skatepark for you? Well, I have to say there was only one time when I had total freedom for that: when I built the bowl at La Kantera. I drew it without showing it to anyone. That was the one I like the most. Since then, there’s always some things people ask to do differently, and I have to respect that. That’s why I sometimes joke: give me the Arrigunaga bowl and downhills and I’m happy with that (he laughs). Could a good skatepark be considered a piece of art? Of course, because you must be an artist to design that, it takes a lot of creativity to do it. They are like concrete sculptures. But you can mix materials, too, like a plastic artist. I make artistic details at some parks: a dragon’s head, a whale’s tale, etc. Like an extra? Yes. If a city hall keeps his word and, in the meantime, they don’t change the project I reward them by doing this art details. It’s a way of saying thank you. What people don’t understand is that drawing a skatepark takes a lot of time and many city halls ask projects for "the next" week, as if this was possible! Visit ZUTskateparks Find out more about La Kantera
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September 21, 2022 The story of Marcos Hiroshi, a Brazilian skater, who, in the beginning of this century, was responsible for mapping out all the skateparks and skate spots in Brazil in one guide for ‘100% Skate’ magazine. If there is one thing we know at Trucks and Fins is how much time and work it is to make a skate map, but to pull this off in the days when there was no internet, is insane. Back in those days everything had to be done the “old-school” way, send things by post. But, Marcos made the impossible happen and even found a skatepark in the middle of nowhere in the Amazon jungle! Twenty years later, he still proudly says this was a key moment to put the community in touch with skateboarding. A skatepark guide in a magazine that brought together the skaters in Brazil and created an “onda de skate” (a skate boost), which resulted in what we can see today. When did you start skating? I was three years old, when my father bought me a skateboard as a toy. It became more serious when I was around eight years old, when I started riding the streets of São Paulo. When I was about fourteen years old, my friends and I found a nice spot, far away from home. Here we could do wallrides and other tricks, but one day a security guard came, took our skateboards, and called my dad. He wasn’t incredibly happy with that, and I was forbidden to skate. Only at the age of sixteen, when I got my first job, I got myself a skateboard again and never stopped since. Then you became a professional. Yes, it was in 2003. I got a sponsor after participating in some youth competitions. But it was not enough, though. Yeah. I worked in a bank at the same time because I graduated in management. But the bank was sold and all the people from my department got fired. I thought: ‘I will dedicate myself one hundred per cent to skate with the compensation I received’. Unfortunately, the money ran out and I had to find another job. Then you came across to ‘Cem por cento skate’ magazine. Cem por Cento skate (100% skate) is a Brazilian magazine, one hundred per cent dedicated to skateboarding. They started a project in the beginning of the century and wanted to create the first skatepark guide in Brazil. I was chosen to embrace this project. So, making a skatepark catalogue from scratch in a huge country like Brazil, in the early 2000’s. A great undertaking. Yeah, my guys thought it would be finished in three months… It took a little bit more, I presume… [he laughs]. I took a year and a half. Remember: in the beginning of this century there was no internet. I had to send handwritten letters, asking them to fill out a form about all features of the park, to print photos and send all that by mail. I phoned to everyone to check out if they knew someone who knew someone who knew of a good spot, things like that. That’s how I met a lot of people from all around the country and made friendships that still last two decades later. How many skateparks in Brazil did you gather in that guide? We did that in stages: 427 parks in our first edition in 2002, then we increased to 721 parks in 2004 and in 2006 we had a total of 1024 skateparks and spots. It was an ‘ants job’, like we say in Brazil. What distinctive features did you have? The same you find today and some other warnings, like ‘hey, this place is dangerous, you must go there with a local rider, don’t go alone’. We added a danger scale and things like that. What was the most exotic skatepark you found? We were able to find a park in the Amazon Forest, right in the middle of the jungle. And they were some other bizarre parks too. Due to a total lack of criteria about spending public money we had all kinds of crazy spots: hand wide handrails, a quarterpipe facing a wall... We made observations on the spots description like ‘there’s this place but it’s horrible’. Instagram Marcos Hiroshi See all skateparks in Brazil
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October 4, 2022 How has the Rayssa Leal phenomenon changed the image of skateboarding in Brazilian society? Well, let's start off with this... In 2022 there are more girls than boys in skateboarding schools in Brazil. Don't miss the second part of this conversation with Marcos Hiroshi, former Brazilian professional rider, where we tried to understand how Brazil turned into a massive player in the world of skateboarding. How do you explain the evolution of skateboarding in Brazil? We had ups and downs, but at one time skateboarding started to appear frequently on TV and city halls all around Brazil started investing in skateparks. We had this mayor in São Paulo who started building a skatepark in each community youth Centre (places with schools, specialized courses and sports equipment, including, of course, skateparks). In São Paulo around thirty skateparks were build and the city became a reference in skateboarding. Most of these skateparks were built in the city’s outskirts, in poorer neighborhoods and many good riders came out of those initial skateparks. Mainstream media helped, too… Indeed. It was when the X-Games appeared. Suddenly, skateboarding was on TV all the time and we had our ace, Bob Burnquist, who became a true ambassador. Many others came afterwards: Sandro Dias, Rodrigo TX, Tiago Lemos, Luan Oliveira and the most recent of all, Rayssa Leal, who at the age of thirteen years old won the silver medal in the Olympics. Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk What was the impact caused by Rayssa Leal in Brazil? A tremendous impact. Every child wants to ride now. Parents are being pressured by their kids to put them in skateboarding schools. The Olympics showed that a little girl can ride and have fun like if she was in a playground. I can even tell you more. In Brazil now, we have more girls than boys in skateboarding schools! Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk You have accumulated a lot of experience in skateboarding events in Brazil… Yes, we acquired a lot knowledge in the last two decades. The CBSK (Brazilian Skate Confederation) exists for twenty years and has many skillful people. We have associations, federations, statutes, projects connected to schools, you name it. They are also many social associations that take kids from streets through skateboarding. All this know-how resulted in big events and we have created a whole group of specialized people along the way. The image of skateboarding in Brazil has changed… For sure. It became mainstream and less marginalized. Several years ago, parents didn't want their kids to skate. And a girl? Never! But now that all changed overnight. The general public now understands something about skateboarding because the Olympics and all the Brazilian "skateboarding" idols. Now we have public money allocated to skateboarding, to prepare the Olympics, because skateboarding is an official sport. This money is also used to build more skateparks. The CBSK has an agreement with local and central government to act like an official advisor with skatepark builders to prevent bad constructions. Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk How many skateboarders do you have in Brazil? A search made in 2015 by Data Folha (data platform from newspaper Folha de São Paulo) concluded they were about 8,5 million skateboarders in Brazil, but I can say for sure that we have now more than ten million, after the Olympics in Tokyo. Instagram Marcos Hiroshi See all skateparks in Brazil
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October 28, 2022, interview with skatepark hunter Patrick Peeters Meet Patrick Peeters, one of our top skatepark hunters, who visited 107 skateparks in less than a year. Patrick Peeters is a Belgian TV camera operator who discovered skateboarding during a "bad moment" in his life. Skateboarding helped him "clear" his mind and chasing skateparks in Europe has been his passion since then. 107 skateparks, in less than 1 year, is one hell of an effort, so we decided to have a chat and find out more. First, tell us something about you. Where are you from, what do you do and how/when did skateboarding turn part of your life. Hello, I'm Patrick, I'm 46, I live in Belgium where I work as a television cameraman. As a teenager I skated, but can't remember doing anything special. I just liked cruising around and jumping over some self-build quarters. Then I stopped skating for 30 years, but have been back on a board for the last year and half. So yep, I'm back skating again and love it. In the beginning actually my sister wanted to start with inline skating, so I went along at the local pumptrack with her and that's how it all started. What drives you to find, discover and help update new skateparks? I love to skate at different parks, just so I can find spots I like. Skating different parks helps me get comfortable on different surfaces, shapes, heights of quarters, and carve in different bowls. I was planning to make a Facebook Page or something similar, to collect my pictures of different parks, to get my own sort of database. And then I discovered Trucks and Fins. I knew this was what I was looking for. I believe there are more people that would love to have information and see quality photos of skateparks, before making the decision to go there or not. And that's why I love to help update the website. Can you tell us how far you go to explore a skatepark? When I drive to a skatepark the first reason is to find a spot to skate. The second reason is to get photos of the park because I am there. I'm lucky to be allowed by my chief to make some detours on my way to work abroad, so I can drive some extra km's to check out parks in France and other places. Along the way I have found some great skateparks. Recently I was on vacation in Tenerife and of course couldn't resist to check out all the local parks and put them on the Trucks and Fins website. You have visisted 107 skateparks, what are your favourite? And what about the worst? I didn't end up skating all the parks. Due to weather or not having a board I didn't skate every single one of the parks. But from the ones I did skate the worst was Grand Marais Skatepark near Amiens in France. It's a concrete bowl with a nice shape, but because it's old, there are pieces of concrete coming off everywhere. I just left after a couple of minutes. It really wasn't possible to skate there. The best? I can't really pick "a" favourite, so here are my top 3: Du Grand Large in Mons, Strombeek Bever near Brussels, and Sint Niklaas skatepark. They all have a nicely shaped bowl and a street section with different obstacles in an interesting setup and quality quarters. Based on your experience, does the average skatepark have the right features for average riders? What could improve? For me there is no ‘standard rider' because of the different disciplines. It's difficult to build a park that's right for all of them. For street you want lots of flat space and obstacles, for transition skating you want a lot of quarters and half pipes in different heights, and for a bowl you want a good closed bowl to carve around. But I guess Blaarmeersen in Gent, Sint Niklaas and Strombeek Bever are all-round good parks. What could improve is getting more in contact with the local skate community when building a park. I have visited a lot of big expensive parks with a bad surface, bad quarters, or the trend now to paint bowls... Skateboarding is a social gathering, too. Do you have a happy story at a skatepark you would like to share? Recently I met a woman who was skating but wanted to skate more and with other people. She was happy to learn about the 'skating for adults’ lesson I was following each week, and she joined our group. When I was on a little holiday in Vienna, Austria, I met some local skaters who invited me to their park, lended me a board, Vans and full protection gear so I could have a go. It was a fantastic moment skating together and being welcomed like that. What is your favourite trick? Not sure if it qualifies as a trick, but I love to carve and I hear nice comments about my carve skills. I know it's definitely not a standard skill. At the De Kuil bowl in Den Haag one skater said that at the time he first tried skating a bowl, he already skated 10 years but couldn't carve, and was impressed with my carving after 1 year skateboarding. Another skater said he held competitions between his friends to see who was able to carve a curve after a curve, but they couldn't do it. And to see me do it like I do after just 1 year was really great. So, I guess it is a trick! Who’s your favourite rider (actual or all time, it’s your call)? To be honest I don't follow any specific rider. I prefer to follow adults on their journey to learn to skate than more experienced skaters. But of course, as a kid and still now I know Tony Hawk and really like his style. Would you like add something I didn’t ask? I want to go more into what skateboarding has done for me. I started to skate when I was in a bad place in life. Skateboarding gave me a thing to focus on. Something to clear my mind, a reason to go outside and do something, to meet other people, and do some good exercise. It has helped me a lot on a mental and physical level, which I could never have imagined when I started. As I have become fairly active on Instagram with my skate account, I had some people who told me they are inspired by my journey, by my progress, and so I think it's given me an extra boost to share it all, the positive and the negative. And I always like to leave a positive remark or an encouraging note. We all have our own journey, our own progress, don't compare yourself to others. Just have fun and enjoy your own skills. Could you give us your opinion about our project, Trucks and Fins? I love it! It is exactly what I was looking for. A map with all the skateparks, with some pictures, so I can plan a skate trip to the parks of my interest. I hope every skater will get to know this map, and to use it for their trips. Patrick Peeters Instagram See Patrick Peeters his skatepark portfolio
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October 31, 2022, interview with Marcos Hiroshi Subjectiveness, originality and fearless tricks are the secrets to success in Olympic skateboarding. In this third part of the interview with Marcos Hiroshi we get a comprehensive view about how judges value a good trick. Stay foolish is still a good mantra. How have the Olympics changed skateboarding in Brazil? We got the power to advocate. Skateboarding now has the same importance and relevance as many other sports. Now we can talk to politicians and demand a skatepark like other sports demand new facilities. Skateboarding is becoming more popular in Brazil… Yes, even folks who didn't know anything about skateboarding are now more curious. People want to know more about skateboarding and hear stories about their heroes. The bad image of skateboarding belongs to the past. A rider is not an outcast anymore. Skateboarding is now a kid’s sport. It's something that brings all people together. It's more than just winning or taking over the other one to rule. The image of that girl being raised was a landmark in the Olympics. The Japanese skater, Misugu Okamoto, missed the podium after bailing a flip attempt and falling into the concrete bowl. While she was crying, other competitors showed up to hug her and lifted her on their shoulders, becoming one of the most powerful images of that competition. This was the perfect calling card of skateboarding. Now you have that uncle who during a family dinner is talking about the young girls who are rocking in skateboarding, like Rayssa Leal. That's a good thing, because people are interested in skateboarding and it unites people. It is about empowerment. Thanks to this, riders are receiving scholarships. They do not ride just to get a sponsor; they get money from the state or local government. That money will sustain the skater and that is a huge change! Furthermore, many specialists started to work on the backstage: therapists, physiotherapists, coaches, referees… people who became professionals. I was in Tokyo during the Olympics and people from other sports were saying ‘hey, I like the way things work in skateboarding.’ They got impressed. You have conquered a place… Yes, but we are having some disputes with Worldskate, which is more related to roller skate. Skateboarding wants to take their own decisions and follow its own path. Worldskate has nothing to do with skateboarding. Fortunately, skateboarding is rising in other countries due to the Olympics. I went to China recently and I noticed how powerful skateboarding is. I saw some exceptionally good things in Turkey too. You are a judge member at skateboarding competitions, including the Olympics. How subjective is your analysis? There is a fixed value for a trick. The extra comes from other factors like did he do that it at the limit, the speed, style... For that we give hundredths of a point and that is what makes the difference. Let us say a deep slide is worth 5,10 but the guy who does that perfectly and with style gets 5,86. We value the one who makes the difference. It's not like snowboarding, where there are mandatory maneuvers with a closed and fixed value. Subjectiveness is one of the more important parts of skateboarding. Style and individuality mean a lot, which is the essence of skateboarding. We stand to prevent riders to become robots. How do the judges establish judgment rules? The CBSK created referee courses to explain, in each state, how the evaluation system works. Judges learn how to take notes, what to pay attention to, etc. Do you watch training sessions to? Yes. In the Olympics we must watch all training sessions since day one. Is there a specific training sessions’ number? Yes. If a competition starts on Thursday, then Tuesday and Wednesday are dedicated to practice and official training sessions. That is when we see what the athletes are preparing and what they are going to do in competition. We start to study them on previous days. Based on that we, the judges, start to set an average to a special trick. Give me an example. Let us say we see a guy doing a flipnose blunt. We start to discuss: how much should we grade it? And then we start to make charts to divide it in those items that we talked about before. We go to the park, too, to try it. It is impossible to understand the difficulty level of the obstacles from a higher point of view. By going there, we see the distance between obstacles, how high they are, witch side is more difficult, if there is a crack. Those details will help us to have a full guide and to give a fair rate. You must decide very quickly. Because competitions have TV broadcasting, judges cannot debate rates, we must decide almost immediately. We have 15/20 seconds to do it. That is why we prepare everything in advance. Is there a chance of a rider surprising you during a competition? That is almost impossible. If a rider wants to show a new trick, he must try it before, at training sessions, where we are studying them. I remember one time a guy doing a Caballerial nose flip. He was just trying, but we started to debate ‘how are we going to score this if he does it during the competition’? How many judges were you at the Olympics, in Tokyo? Five judges and a head judge. I was a park judge. Are the Olympics changing the skateboarding categories? Mixing styles in one competition is the future? Yes, the future is to combine all features at one single track. The rider of the future will be the one who has not just a category, he must do everything well. It is by watching championships that you see who has that profile. Andy Anderson is a good example; he is someone from freestyle who rocks in park. Park is still too attached to bowl and vert; the future will be a fusion of all these categories. Instagram Marcos Hiroshi Read interview part 2
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What started to be a most wanted but affordable seafront concrete skatepark in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales, became a legal battle between the skateboarding community and some minor (but financial empowered) group of objectors, including Bonie Tylers’ husband, who did not want to have a skatepark close do their mansions. Five years later, though, the dream came true. Skateboarding won. Mumbles skatepark in Swansea, Wales, was projected in 2018 with a 199.000-pound budget ($240.000/€224.000), but due to legal costs the final investment went up to double. Throughout this process a large and loudly community stepped up, putting in place many initiatives. But what called the attention of the mass media was the moment when a multimillionaire harassed some kids: the video went viral and helped the cause. We talked to Jason Williams, chairman of Mumbles Skatepark Association, who explained what went wrong, what people did to stand out and how hard was to go against those who have the money to stop, or at least postpone, a dream of so many. «The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project», he says. Built by Maverick Skateparks, it was opened last Friday, the 17th of February 2023. What was the trigger that made you stepping forward against those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark? It was all about getting a concrete park. Swansea’s got a rich surf and skate history, and a concrete park was long overdue. We get that not everyone wants a skatepark or feels an area need a skatepark, but there was a massive support for the park, and we had to co-ordinate to ensure the very vocal minority didn’t overshadow what a skatepark brings to a community. Tell us about the process of making your association. Tomsk, Will and Jono were all involved from the beginning, advising the local council, but once initial planning permission for the project was granted, it was clear a more formal group/association was needed. Ironically, I didn’t attend the first meeting, but got voted in as chair and told afterwards! What kind of initiatives did you put in place? We held some meeting etc, but really relied on social media to engage with the communities (skate, bmx etc). We also worked closely with the local council driving the project and lobbied the larger County Council as well. “There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project skyrocketed and it all went pretty viral.” Then, it came local opposition… Yes, it got complicated when some local opposition with significant financial backing issued a judicial review in an attempt to stop the project, which really seemed to galvanise those in favour. There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project sky rocketed and it all went pretty viral. Hitting local, national and international press and web sites. The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How did non skater people react to your advocacy? Where they just ignoring or did they join the ‘battle’? Was this more than just a skatepark? Overall, pretty good. Throughout, we’ve focussed on the positives a skatepark brings and the importance of an open, visible, accessible site. Covid and lockdown really shone a light on the need for free, accessible facilities and the whole start of this came from school kids saying they wanted a skate park, so the parents were all in favour. With the issues mentioned above, that support just went off the scale (our online petition went from 4500 signatures to 24000 signatures in a week!). Could you name special episodes that took place that you will remember for ever? So many moments: the ‘incident’ and being contacted by local and national press, including TV interviews with the BBC. Our story appearing in pretty much all the UK press. Being asked to participate in a debate on live national radio (cancelled at the last minute as no-one was prepared to participate from the group that issued the judicial review). A local brewery creating a delicious beer and soda called Damn the Man, to help fundraise. Finally getting everything signed off, the building of the park started. What kind of support did you have across this prolonged period? Legal, mostly? None, really. We did have some well-wishers giving us informal advice, but we pretty much worked it out ourselves. The core of the Association are older, so experience from work, friends etc helped. When it came to the formal legal issues, the Council led and we fed in as much as we could, to ensure the right messaging was coming across. We did have to get involved in formal council stuff, but again, we just worked it out. “Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review” How those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark changed their behaviour as your voice got bigger? Is it true that singer Bonnie Tyler was one of those at the frontline? Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review. They were all in the background really and thought they could throw money and big-time lawyers at it and get it shut down. We were lucky that the local councils really saw what the skatepark could provide and bought into the project. That meant they worked through the legal challenge, rather than rolling over. It helped that there was so much press about ‘the incident’ and a huge amount of focus and support on the project. Because of this legal battle the skatepark will cost much more. How and who do you think should pay the difference? Yeah, that sucks. Not just legal costs but build costs increased, all because a bunch of millionaires tried to stop it. Luckily, we did get support from lottery funding and the Mumbles Community Council made up the difference. “I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together!” This episode had impact at the media, like you said. Do you think your cause could be an example for other organizations around the world? Absolutely, I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together! In all seriousness, I don’t know if we did the best job, or if we were just lucky. Also, each project has a different context and different challenges. In a nutshell, we tried to remain positive, repeat key messages about community (not just skate, bmx community) and the wider benefits of skateparks, tie in politicians and councillors wherever possible, and just kept pushing. If you had to ‘baptize’ this skatepark on a consequence of this social movement, what would be its name? Loads of people have come up with ideas already, mainly as a big FU to those who were against it. Me, I don’t really care, I’m just over the moon it’s there. Let’s call it ‘one’, as we’re already talking to the local council about a possible 2 or 3 more parks. Visit Mumbles skatepark Find out more about Maverick skateparks
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Trucks and Fins welcomes Bros Around The Globe who will share with us their inspiring travel adventures. In their first blog you will get a comprehensive perspective on how traveling and skateboarding share the same ‘mantra’: freedom and connecting people. So simple. So pure. So healthy. If you’ve stumped upon this, chances are you’re thinking about bringing your skateboard with you on your next trip. And if you haven’t thought about packing it, you should, because you’ll probably regret it if you don’t. As a skater, a skateboard is the best thing you can take with you on a travel adventure, besides well, your skate shoes, of course. Whether you’re heading out to the next town over or abroad to a new country when you take your board with you, the possibilities are endless, and Trucks and Fins can navigate the skate along the way or even help find a place to stay. Though it may feel awkward to carry and seem like extra weight at first, the benefits of bringing your skateboard will soon reveal themselves in more ways than one. Between waiting for buses, taxis, trains, and all the downtime that travel provides, your board is sure to keep you occupied when you're not seeking out new skate spots or exploring a new city on four wheels. With a board in tow, you have the ability to get from point A to point B, all while expressing the creative outlet we call skateboarding. As you hit the streets to take in the new sights, sounds, and smells, the pure joy from kicking, pushing, and rolling in a foreign place is a feeling second to none. “Skaters respect other skaters no matter where they may find themselves in the world and there’s a special connection in a shared passion and lifestyle” Besides skating legendary spots, parks, and plazas, you’ll quickly learn your skate doubles as a universal language for making new friends. Not to mention it helps you navigate language barriers and tap into skating’s tight-knit subculture. Skaters respect other skaters no matter where they may find themselves in the world and there’s a special connection in a shared passion and lifestyle. Skating knows no boundaries, no borders, nor skin colour because every skater knows how much, blood, sweat, tears, and time goes into the learning process. When you meet other skaters, there’s an unspoken bond that brings high fives and high vibes in whatever corner of the globe you may find yourself in. Skating can be a tool to clear one’s mind, let off steam, challenge yourself, be present, and rediscover the learning process. Besides helping you get around, it’s a useful tool to have when traveling long-term and can be all the above and more. You may even inspire others to get on a board or help a groom cruise for the first time. Each skate mission will give you a glimpse into the local skate culture and diversity of skaters worldwide. You’ll meet new friends, skate legendary spots you can only dream of, and make memories to last you a lifetime. All made possible by a wooden toy and the desire to ride. “Becoming friends with locals is always a powerful travel experience, leaving you with the feeling that you were fully immersed and a part of the city” When you arrive at a new destination, just show up at the local, and you’ll be in the neighbourhood crew before you know it. Young or old, beginner or professional, skateparks serve as places for people of different backgrounds to interact with each other. When you’re on the road, stopping by the skatepark or DIY spot is one of the best ways to take in the vibe of a unique place and meet new people. No matter where you are in the world, skaters are gonna skate. Becoming friends with locals is always a powerful travel experience, leaving you with the feeling that you were fully immersed and a part of the city, town, or village you were visiting. On your journey, you can’t forget to make a stop to support the local skate shop. Around the world, skate shops serve as a catalyst for developing and sustaining the local skate community. It's a place to gather and chop it up to gain some insight into what you should really see and do in a new place. When traveling, the best advice is always from people who actually live there. A skate shop is the root of a city’s skate culture, and it brings people together. Skate shops are much more than a storefront, they support real people and put their money back into the local skate scene. Skate shops around the world always have a welcoming atmosphere that illustrates just how vibrant the skate community is. “Travel and skating are all about freedom, creativity, and thinking outside the box. When you combine the two, you’ll experience the best of both worlds” Traveling with a board taught me how skateboarding and traveling are similar in many ways. Through both, you must be present and only concentrate on the now. Skateboarding, like traveling, has always taught me about patience, persistence, never giving up, and mental toughness. Both prepare you to adjust when a mistake arises and to keep trying when something doesn't go your way. They teach you to adapt when things don't go correctly and push you out of your comfort zone to try new things. On the road or on your board, there’s a humbling feeling when you fail or fall down, leaving you to get back up and do it again through sheer determination. Freedom, creativity, and individuality are values of skateboard culture. There is no question that skaters are unrelentingly dedicated to the progress of the sport and welcome anyone who has the courage to get on board. The skate community is built on mutual respect. Instead of one-upping each other, skaters continually encourage each other and embrace their differences, something ever so prevalent when you travel the world with your board. Travel and skating are all about freedom, creativity, and thinking outside the box. When you combine the two, you’ll experience the best of both worlds. So when it comes to packing for that next trip, make sure you leave enough room to bring your board. Your skateboard will take you to places you could only dream of and give you memorable experiences that will stay with you long after your adventure is concluded. With 85 million skaters around the world, you’ll be sure to find your tribe when you travel, and all you’ll need is your board. Website Bros around the Globe Instagram Bros around the globe
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William Montgomery rides particularly good. Or better: Big Chicken shreds, already with a signature. He’s just seven years old but has already visited more than 75 skateparks from coast to coast in the United States of America, during his school holidays. “It’s fun to roll quietly through airports”, he says, never forgetting the most important thing: skateboarding is for fun. Meet this very special Trucks and Fins’ skatepark hunter. So, William, first tell us about your nickname: why ‘big chicken’, what’s the story behind it? My dad got a Big Chicken Beer sticker from henhouse brewery in Santa Rosa, and I put it on my helmet, and we decided it should be the name for my Instagram account. Explain a bit more about the drawing on your helmet. Who made it? It is a Nutcase helmet with a bunch of travel and skate stickers on it that I have collected. You have visited about seventy-five parks. How did you manage your time with school stuff and other activities? Exploring the Bay Area on weekends (we have a lot of spots) and taking my board with me on holidays. Fun to roll quietly through airports. Can you choose the best skatepark from all these seventy-five? No, but I really liked Vans Huntington Beach, Woodward Tahoe, Fremont, Cookeville and Potrero. In the last couple of months, you have travelled from coast to coast. Was that all planned? How did you program your tour? I just go wherever my mom plans (we like to travel) and then my dad helps me go to skateparks while there :) When did you start to skate? Tell us a bit of your personal story, and about your dreams regarding skateboarding. I started in April 2020. I saw my friend Jack’s skateboard and wanted one, so my parents got a penny board for me, and I used it at Shredders Skate Camp. Big thanks to Chris there for encouraging me. He said I was good and my dad’s friend Mark gave me a bigger board. Reese Forbes then taught me to go fast and the guys at Potrero help me. I like skateboarding as a hobby, not a job. Considering we are a community-focused directory, tell us how important are skatepark hunters like you for the people around the world who like to find new spots to ride and new places to discover. My dad likes Trucks and Fins, especially when we travel to new places like Portugal, so we don’t travel to a boring one. I like to see parks to ride before going, so I can imagine what I can do there. Instagram Big Chicken
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June 24 2022. Skateboarding and freedom are two things that walk together. That’s why when you join young riders in a public event but under a strict regime, you’re going to have problems. This is what happened this week in Iran, where local authorities have detained five people accused of organizing a skateboarding event where dozens of teenagers mixed freely, and girls didn't wear headscarves. A video allegedly describing Tuesday’s ‘Go Skateboarding Day’ celebration on Chamran Boulevard in Shiraz went viral on social media in Iran, maddening orthodox religious conservatives in a country where all women and young girls are required to wear a hijab and were mixed. According to Shiraz police commander Faraj Shojaee, as quoted by state news agency IRNA, several girls “removed their hijab at the end of the sports event without observing the religious considerations and legal norms”. “With the coordination of the judiciary, a number of perpetrators and people related to this gathering were identified and arrested on Thursday,” he said. “Holding any mixed sports or non-sports gathering without observing the religious and legal norms is prohibited and the organisers will be dealt with according to the law,” Shojaee further complemented. Iranian law bans women from appearing in public without covering their hair with a hijab, a rigorous dress code imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "Holding any mixed sports or non-sports gathering without observing the religious and legal norms is prohibited” Local Police commander Skateparks in Iran
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Qualification Olympic Games Paris 2024 The road to Paris 2024 starts in Rome. The first street event from the qualification path towards the Olympic Games in Paris, will be held in Rome at the Parco del Colle Oppio e delle Terme di Traiano next to the Colisseum, from Sunday June 26th to July 3rd 2022. The skatepark for this event was designed and built by Californiaskateparks. So what are the rules of this Pro Tour event? National Federations are allowed to register 6 athletes per gender. Pre-seeded skaters do not count against the Country Quota registration limit. The TOP 5 ranked athletes and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games medalists, skip the Open Qualifier and will be pre-seeded directly into a following competition phase. Skaters ranked 6th to 30th will be seeded to the Open Qualifier. Provisional Schedule Sunday, June 26th, Monday, June 27th, Tuesday, June 28th: Practice Sessions - Men and Women Wednesday, June 29th: Competition + Pre-seeded skaters practice Thursday, June 30th, 2022: Competition + Pre-seeded skaters practice Friday, July 1st, Saturday July 2nd, Sunday, July 3rd: Competition Competition Format and Seeding Open Qualifier 2 Runs, best Run counts Top 32 athletes per gender advance to the quarterfinal. Quarterfinal 2 Runs, best Run counts 32 athletes per gender Top 16 athletes per gender advance to the Semifinal. Semifinal New Olympic format 2/5/3: 2 Runs, 5 Best Trick Attempts, 3 Scores counts = Best Run + 2 best Trick Scores Top 8 athletes per gender advance to the Semifinal. Final New Olympic format 2/5/3: 2 Runs, 5 Best Trick Attempts, 3 Scores counts = Best Run + 2 best Trick Scores Top 5 and Olympic medalists Women Pamela Rosa (Brazil) Rayssa Leal (Brazil) Aori Nishimura (Japan) - Gold Medal Leticia Bufoni (Brazil) Momiji Nishiya (Japan) - Silver Medal Funa Nakayama (Japan) - Bronze Medal Top 5 and Olympic medalists Men Nyjah Huston (USA) Yuto Horigome (Japan) - Gold Medal Sora Shirai (Japan) Kelvin Hoefler (Brazil) - Silver Medal Gustavo Ribeiro (Portugal) Jagger Eaton (USA) - Bronze Medal Discover More California Skateparks
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The Simple Session series will host their next exciting street focused contest in the Põhjala district in Estonia, where an old rubber factory turned into a cultural hub will serve as a thrilling location for the event. A hundred of the finest invited BMX street riders and skateboarders from around the world will go head to head on a new 600 square meter Wessel-designed street course. Skateboarding and BMX are all about creativity. So is Simple Session – hosting the series at the coolest and liveliest venue in Tallinn will take the entire contest experience to another level for athletes and viewers. Simple Session 22 also features its (in)famous four-day party & concert program from Thursday to Sunday 9–12.06. Full festival dates: June 8-13, 2022 Buy Tickets
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Ghana's very first skatepark, built to galvanize the burgeoning skateboarding scene in Ghana. Freedom skatepark and Ghana are officialy on our map, the country's first fully functional skatepark in the heart of one of Accra’s trendiest neighborhoods. And Freedom Skatepark is not just "another" skatepark. At Freedom skatepark you can do coaching programs, art workshops and you also have a Wi-Fi cafe, and the country’s very first skate shop. And all this was made to connect young Ghanaians and develop creative possibilities in an environment that promotes inclusivity. A new sport ecosystem that supports well being, creativity and entrepreneurship Since 2016, Surf Ghana's core mission has been to offer easy access to board sports for youth across Ghana. Presently, the ever-growing community of active boarders has created an ecosystem that supports well-being, creativity, and entrepreneurship that is all 100% Made in Ghana. Their aim is to use the inclusiveness of skateboarding as a bridge to urban sport life for Ghana’s most marginalized local population. The construction of Freedom Skatepark will solidify the growth of board sports in Ghana, and help the youth participate in creative activities that build confidence, self-esteem, and provide a valuable platform for self-expression. Surf Ghana also wishes to encourage the space as a training ground for Ghana’s possible inclusion in the skateboarding category of the 2024 Olympic Games. The world needs more projects like this. That's for sure. Visit Skatepark Visit Website Freedom skatepark
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October 4, 2022 How has the Rayssa Leal phenomenon changed the image of skateboarding in Brazilian society? Well, let's start off with this... In 2022 there are more girls than boys in skateboarding schools in Brazil. Don't miss the second part of this conversation with Marcos Hiroshi, former Brazilian professional rider, where we tried to understand how Brazil turned into a massive player in the world of skateboarding. How do you explain the evolution of skateboarding in Brazil? We had ups and downs, but at one time skateboarding started to appear frequently on TV and city halls all around Brazil started investing in skateparks. We had this mayor in São Paulo who started building a skatepark in each community youth Centre (places with schools, specialized courses and sports equipment, including, of course, skateparks). In São Paulo around thirty skateparks were build and the city became a reference in skateboarding. Most of these skateparks were built in the city’s outskirts, in poorer neighborhoods and many good riders came out of those initial skateparks. Mainstream media helped, too… Indeed. It was when the X-Games appeared. Suddenly, skateboarding was on TV all the time and we had our ace, Bob Burnquist, who became a true ambassador. Many others came afterwards: Sandro Dias, Rodrigo TX, Tiago Lemos, Luan Oliveira and the most recent of all, Rayssa Leal, who at the age of thirteen years old won the silver medal in the Olympics. Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk What was the impact caused by Rayssa Leal in Brazil? A tremendous impact. Every child wants to ride now. Parents are being pressured by their kids to put them in skateboarding schools. The Olympics showed that a little girl can ride and have fun like if she was in a playground. I can even tell you more. In Brazil now, we have more girls than boys in skateboarding schools! Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk You have accumulated a lot of experience in skateboarding events in Brazil… Yes, we acquired a lot knowledge in the last two decades. The CBSK (Brazilian Skate Confederation) exists for twenty years and has many skillful people. We have associations, federations, statutes, projects connected to schools, you name it. They are also many social associations that take kids from streets through skateboarding. All this know-how resulted in big events and we have created a whole group of specialized people along the way. The image of skateboarding in Brazil has changed… For sure. It became mainstream and less marginalized. Several years ago, parents didn't want their kids to skate. And a girl? Never! But now that all changed overnight. The general public now understands something about skateboarding because the Olympics and all the Brazilian "skateboarding" idols. Now we have public money allocated to skateboarding, to prepare the Olympics, because skateboarding is an official sport. This money is also used to build more skateparks. The CBSK has an agreement with local and central government to act like an official advisor with skatepark builders to prevent bad constructions. Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk How many skateboarders do you have in Brazil? A search made in 2015 by Data Folha (data platform from newspaper Folha de São Paulo) concluded they were about 8,5 million skateboarders in Brazil, but I can say for sure that we have now more than ten million, after the Olympics in Tokyo. Instagram Marcos Hiroshi See all skateparks in Brazil
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The million dollar question? How many skateparks are there in the world? Three years ago, this whole crazy journey started, because I wanted to make the first map of all the skateparks in Portugal. After completing my first country I decided to map out the rest of the world and basically never stopped uploading parks since then. The following data is not 100% accurate, because I am still uploading hundreds of new parks a week. But one thing if for sure. There are 18545 skateparks in the world on our map and I estimate there are around 23000 public skateparks around the globe. What country has the most skateparks? The United States of America has way more skateparks than any other country in the world and there are 7 countries with over 1000 skateparks. The United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Spain and Brazil are all members of the +1000 club. Below you can find a list of the current top 20 countries with the most parks. What country has the most capita per skateparks? Having the most skateparks is one thing. But who has the most parks per capita? Well, yesterday I put all the numbers in excel to find out. The results are surprising. Liechentstein comes on first place. This small country has 7 parks and a population of 38383, meaning you have a park for every 5483 people. The USA currently is far from reaching the top 20 list with one park for every 95573 people. Brazil is another country that disappears off the list with one park for every 214781 people. These lists and rankings will change over time whilst I continue to upload and find parks, but it does give us an idea of the current situation around the world. Know a skatepark that is missing on the map? You can add the skatepark here and help keep our map up to date! See all the skateparks in the world Add a skatepark to the map
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In a couple of days the best skaters will compete in the Olympic Park. With the highlights on the duel between the Portuguese Gustavo Ribeiro and the Japanese Yuto Horigome, as well as the phenomenon Rayssa Leal, from Brazil The Arena Carioca 1, at Parque Olimpico da Barra, will host, between the 5th and 6th of November, the Super Crown World Championship, the final stage of the Skate Street World League (SLS) 2022. This is considered the main skate street competition to be held in the country in 2022. For this year's edition, the SLS Super Crown World Championship expects to receive around five thousand fans a day. The important names of the modality are awaited in the search for the title. In the men's, the Portuguese Gustavo Ribeiro, who won the recent stage in Las Vegas, will have as his main opponent the Olympic champion, the Japanese Yuto Horigome, who leads the ranking. Photos credit: Julio Detefon / CBSk In the women's, Brazilian Rayssa Leal, who won all stages of the 2022 Street League Skateboarding (SLS), held in Jacksonville, Seattle and Las Vegas, arrives as the favorite. She also won the STU Open Rio, held at Praça Duó, in Barra da Tijuca. Second place in the STU Open Rio and in the world ranking, Pâmela Rosa also has a chance to win the third consecutive world championship. In addition to the top four in the SLS men's and women's rankings, the top four will compete in the final after the qualifying stage, which will take place on Saturday, the 5th, at Arena 1 at the Olympic Park. In the 2021 edition, TV coverage of the event was followed by more than six million people worldwide, while another five million were impacted by social media. In Brazil, the economy around the modality moves almost 200 million dollars, which places the country as the second largest skate business center in the world, after the United States of America. Visit StreetLeague website Watch Live
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The Skatepark map of the UK is complete. Finding skateparks in the United Kingdom has never been easier. Piece by piece like a massive puzzle, here it is: the skatepark map of the United Kingdom is finally complete. From the ‘old school’ iconic parks, to brand new spots and crappy skateparks, we found them all. But please don't shoot the messenger if you do find one more, because I am sure there must be more hidden away somewhere. There's always one more. We have found a total of 1786 public skateparks, including asphalt and concrete pumptracks. Most parks are street focused, just like most countries around the globe, but it's never been a better time for transition skaters too. Did you know there are 267 skateparks with bowls in the UK? From North to South, skateboarders can find detailed information about each spot and together with GPS location and local businesses nearby. A map of stoke to compare parks with other spots and to decide where to go to next. With 1786 parks the UK scores third place in the countries with the most parks in the world, but numbers change a bit if you put things into a different perspective. If you look at skateparks per capita the United Kingdom only comes on 14th place, with one park for every 38504 people. Liechtenstein comes on first place of that list with one park for every 5383 people. Food for thought. 5 bucket list skateparks in the UK Southbank Undercroft had to be on the list, of course. Southbank has been around since the 70s and has many stories to tell. Like someone said “It wasn’t made for skating. If it was, it would be something completely different". That is why it's such a unique spot. Folkestone 51 is a 17 million pound indoor skatepark in Kent featuring the world’s first suspended concrete bowls and three stacked floors dedicated to all types of skateboarding and BMXing. Prefer street or transition, concrete or wood? Don't worry F51 has you covered and has something for all levels of riding ability. Dean Lane skatepark, aka the "deaner", has been around since 1978 and was one of the first parks in the UK. Dean Lane skatepark is a concrete self funded DIY park located next to the Bristol South swimming pool and features a transition and street section. The Deaner is famous for its severe transitions, making it hard to skate. If you like transition then Haverfordwest skatepark is what your looking for. The skatepark was built by Maverick skateparks in 2014 and features several bowls and a transiton area with nicely blended in street elements. Distinctive is that one in the Shetland Islands, too. This park proves that distance or geography aren't a problem when the community raises their voice and gets together. The Lerwick Skatepark is the northernmost skatepark in the United Kingdom and its smooth concrete and design definitely make the park a bucket list spot. Skateparks and Special features in the United Kingdom Racio total population/skateparks: 38504/park Total skateparks: 1786 Total asphalt/concrete pumptracks: 111 Total skate bowls: 267 Miniramps: 901 Halfpipes: 12 Fullpipes: 2 Skatepark Builders in the United Kingdom Click on profile builder - select "See all parks" to see the map of each builder. Maverick skateparks Four One Four Skateparks Canvas Skateparks Wheelscape Skateparks Influential Skateboarders in the UK Ben Raemers Geoff Rowley Tom Penny Matt Pritchard Sky Brown See all the skateparks in the United Kingdom
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What started to be a most wanted but affordable seafront concrete skatepark in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales, became a legal battle between the skateboarding community and some minor (but financial empowered) group of objectors, including Bonie Tylers’ husband, who did not want to have a skatepark close do their mansions. Five years later, though, the dream came true. Skateboarding won. Mumbles skatepark in Swansea, Wales, was projected in 2018 with a 199.000-pound budget ($240.000/€224.000), but due to legal costs the final investment went up to double. Throughout this process a large and loudly community stepped up, putting in place many initiatives. But what called the attention of the mass media was the moment when a multimillionaire harassed some kids: the video went viral and helped the cause. We talked to Jason Williams, chairman of Mumbles Skatepark Association, who explained what went wrong, what people did to stand out and how hard was to go against those who have the money to stop, or at least postpone, a dream of so many. «The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project», he says. Built by Maverick Skateparks, it was opened last Friday, the 17th of February 2023. What was the trigger that made you stepping forward against those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark? It was all about getting a concrete park. Swansea’s got a rich surf and skate history, and a concrete park was long overdue. We get that not everyone wants a skatepark or feels an area need a skatepark, but there was a massive support for the park, and we had to co-ordinate to ensure the very vocal minority didn’t overshadow what a skatepark brings to a community. Tell us about the process of making your association. Tomsk, Will and Jono were all involved from the beginning, advising the local council, but once initial planning permission for the project was granted, it was clear a more formal group/association was needed. Ironically, I didn’t attend the first meeting, but got voted in as chair and told afterwards! What kind of initiatives did you put in place? We held some meeting etc, but really relied on social media to engage with the communities (skate, bmx etc). We also worked closely with the local council driving the project and lobbied the larger County Council as well. “There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project skyrocketed and it all went pretty viral.” Then, it came local opposition… Yes, it got complicated when some local opposition with significant financial backing issued a judicial review in an attempt to stop the project, which really seemed to galvanise those in favour. There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project sky rocketed and it all went pretty viral. Hitting local, national and international press and web sites. The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How did non skater people react to your advocacy? Where they just ignoring or did they join the ‘battle’? Was this more than just a skatepark? Overall, pretty good. Throughout, we’ve focussed on the positives a skatepark brings and the importance of an open, visible, accessible site. Covid and lockdown really shone a light on the need for free, accessible facilities and the whole start of this came from school kids saying they wanted a skate park, so the parents were all in favour. With the issues mentioned above, that support just went off the scale (our online petition went from 4500 signatures to 24000 signatures in a week!). Could you name special episodes that took place that you will remember for ever? So many moments: the ‘incident’ and being contacted by local and national press, including TV interviews with the BBC. Our story appearing in pretty much all the UK press. Being asked to participate in a debate on live national radio (cancelled at the last minute as no-one was prepared to participate from the group that issued the judicial review). A local brewery creating a delicious beer and soda called Damn the Man, to help fundraise. Finally getting everything signed off, the building of the park started. What kind of support did you have across this prolonged period? Legal, mostly? None, really. We did have some well-wishers giving us informal advice, but we pretty much worked it out ourselves. The core of the Association are older, so experience from work, friends etc helped. When it came to the formal legal issues, the Council led and we fed in as much as we could, to ensure the right messaging was coming across. We did have to get involved in formal council stuff, but again, we just worked it out. “Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review” How those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark changed their behaviour as your voice got bigger? Is it true that singer Bonnie Tyler was one of those at the frontline? Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review. They were all in the background really and thought they could throw money and big-time lawyers at it and get it shut down. We were lucky that the local councils really saw what the skatepark could provide and bought into the project. That meant they worked through the legal challenge, rather than rolling over. It helped that there was so much press about ‘the incident’ and a huge amount of focus and support on the project. Because of this legal battle the skatepark will cost much more. How and who do you think should pay the difference? Yeah, that sucks. Not just legal costs but build costs increased, all because a bunch of millionaires tried to stop it. Luckily, we did get support from lottery funding and the Mumbles Community Council made up the difference. “I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together!” This episode had impact at the media, like you said. Do you think your cause could be an example for other organizations around the world? Absolutely, I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together! In all seriousness, I don’t know if we did the best job, or if we were just lucky. Also, each project has a different context and different challenges. In a nutshell, we tried to remain positive, repeat key messages about community (not just skate, bmx community) and the wider benefits of skateparks, tie in politicians and councillors wherever possible, and just kept pushing. If you had to ‘baptize’ this skatepark on a consequence of this social movement, what would be its name? Loads of people have come up with ideas already, mainly as a big FU to those who were against it. Me, I don’t really care, I’m just over the moon it’s there. Let’s call it ‘one’, as we’re already talking to the local council about a possible 2 or 3 more parks. Visit Mumbles skatepark Find out more about Maverick skateparks
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25 July 2022. Interview with Txus Domínguez, the spiritual father of La Kantera skatepark, Spain's most iconic skatepark, aka Algorta skatepark. The eighties, a one-of-a-kind decade. An era of creativity in music, movies and art performance. A decade stuck between the old and the new global world, when waves crossed the Atlantic Ocean rapidly, bringing along new ideas and tendencies. That happened with skateboarding too, when the incredibly young Txus Domínguez and his Getxo Boys brought the Californian sun to the Basque Country in Spain and build La Kantera, currently one of the oldest and most renown skateparks in Europe. Txus Domínguez guides you into a journey to the past and tells us why this place is so special, so mystique and so iconic. La Kantera. First things first: what does it mean? In Spanish we say ‘cantera’ for two things: a training ground for kids to learn a special sport or (and this is the case) a kind of quarry. This was a place packed with stones, that is why we called it La Kantera. La Kantera was built in 1987. You were still so young but had an extraordinarily strong role in this process. I’m from Getxo, a place in the Basque Country with a huge surf tradition. In the 60’s a company called Sancheski showed up and built the first skateboard. Initially they build skis, but after being in the US, they brought "skateboards" into Spain. I received my first Sancheski when I was six years old. This was a toy at the first stage, but in just a couple of years skateboarding had turned more serious. Surfers started building ramps. Madrid built its very first skatepark and quickly we started to put pressure on the City Hall. Was it hard? Not really, because there were many surfers in the region, some of them worked in the City Hall. We went to schools to collect signatures. We got more than three thousand signatures. In the meantime we started to build ramps everywhere, that was when my brother and I met the architect who still works with me and helps to build skateparks. He’s six years older than me, he was sixteen when we first had meetings with the City Hall. Do you still remember how much the first park cost? Around twenty-five million pesetas (former Spanish currency), which is now something like 150.000 euros. Architects who had designed the plans made it too vertical, fortunately we saw that in time and changed the plans. We started these discussions in 1984 and three years later La Kantera was inaugurated. Did you find resistance during those three years? No, we had good vibes since the beginning and after La Kantera was built I promoted some events and the City Hall helped, like the Arrigunana Downhill race, the famous Bajada Arrigunaga. That was held in the 90’s. Police helped by closing the streets and we also received some money to organize things. What makes La Kantera so special? A mix of several things. For one we have a strong culture of surf and many hills in the area. Skating with speed is something natural for us here in Getxo. That’s the type of skate we mostly did here in La Kantera, a very surfer kind of style. The place is special too. It's located on the beach side with the ruins of an old military fort. All this has given a big charisma to the place. It was the cradle of big skaters, too. Yes! If there was a national competition in Spain, let’s say with 40 riders, 25 of them were from La Kantera. Many great skaters were born here: Alain Goikoetxea, Alfonso Elvira, Javier Mendizibal, Alfonso Lute Fernandez, Ivan Fano, Jon Txufo… It turned into the Santiago de Compostela for pilgrims of skateboarding… Before we knew it people from abroad started to come. Big names in skateboarding flipped out when they discovered our park. This looks like California, the Americans used to say. How has La Kantera evolved since 1987? Was your bowl, built years later, decisive to boost it? After La Kantera was built, some fifty copies were made in the Basque Country, but all worse than the original. There was a time that La Kantera died out a bit, because people got bored, they wanted new things. Around that time, I went to California with some friends. I wanted to skate in pools, that was my dream. I stayed there for three months. When I came back the City Hall proposed to enlarge the park. I drew a bowl from scratch, and it was built in the year of 2000. It’s a famous bowl… Yeah, it’s not a perfect bowl. It has a different transition, it’s not like the actual bowls, where everything is more perfect. At the begging people said it was crazy. I built it when street skating was the "thing", and vert was almost dead. People were riding with 30 mm wheels, and we were riding with 60 mm wheels. I was doing ollies, but not flips or gabs. Fortunately, guys from Consolidated like Peter Hewitt and Steve Bailey came to La Kantera and fell in love with the bowl. That's when we were put on the world map and people from all over the globe started to come. La Kantera skyrocketed. Big names started appearing at our bowl like, Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero, Gordon Smith, Steve Clark, Nicky Guerrero, Florian Bohm, Steve Olson… Not to forget all the famous street skaters as well. The ‘fiestas’ that you organize, they are famous too. What drives you do to that? Just to have a good time with the community and meet new people. It all started when I did the Arrigunaga Downhill. First it was illegal, then we wad agreements with the City Hall, and it became legal. It was just speed, fun and beers. At a new years’ eve, we had over 5000 people watching it. But there was a time when a kid almost died and the city said ‘the party is over’. I also organized some parties at La Kantera during all these years, the famous ‘pool parties’. The flames and the skull you see in photos, that’s me who drew it. But because of my work (I make skateparks) I currently just organize one party, I call it ‘killer fifty-fifties’. Theoretically it’s only for over fifty-year guys, but anyone can participate, really. It’s an old school event, with almost no sponsors, no security bays, it’s pure fun, simple chaos. It’s a way to go back to the origins. Visit La Kantera skatepark Visit ZUT Skateparks
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July 21 2022. A jewel in skateboarding history - a "secret pool" built by a gangster, maintained by naturists and decades of cat-and-mouse play between cops and skaters. Is this all an urban myth or true? Time to find out. The story goes that the grounds were initially built as a secret getaway for the infamous Al Capone, but unfortunately that seems to be an urban myth, because Al Capone was way dead when this property was developed. In February 1963 a pair of nudists bought the place and transformed a cactus garden into the Desert Gardens Ranch. Secreted away in the San Jacinto Mountains, just outside Desert Hot Springs, it offered people a secluded and year-round sunny haven to run around naked. The ranch was active until the late 70s and was shuttered down around 1980. Image Nudist Newsfront Magazine archives Jeff Bowman - former President of the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society, nudist and pre-Dogtown skater In 1984 a group of skaters discovered the spot that consisted of an abandoned kidney-shaped pool, thanks to a local who had found the bowl and talked to a neighbor who skated and told him to go check it out. Back in those days skaters had to jump fences to skate abandoned and dry pools. So it didn't take long before the word spread there was a bowl you could skate and party without being afraid of getting chased away. Visitors had to travel through the desert to reach the spot and it was a bit of mission to get there. Basically it was a place where you could skate, camp, party, shoot beer cans, get drunk and do whatever you want. The only thing you had to worry about were snakes, scorpions and tarantulas . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Wheels of Fire" with Tony Alva and Rick Spidey turned the Nude Bowl into a pilgrimage of skate. The Nude bowl was a "secret" spot until Santa Cruz released "Wheels of Fire" with Tony Alva and Rick Spidey in 1987 ripping up the bowl. That's when the scene blew up and the nude bowl turned into a Mecca for skaters. Throughout the next years the nude bowl started appearing in magazines and videos, and unfortunately by the 90s, large parties and violence became pretty "normal" here. The nude bowl had turned into the perfect setting for out of control parties, drugs, nude skating, fighting, biker hangouts, you name it. Basically it was one massive fight club in the desert. After numerous complaints about guns, fires and fights, the police filled the bowl with dirt to avoid further problems. A couple of years later two skaters Jeremiah Risk and Rodney Rodrigues spent nights digging up the dirt with bulldozers and repaired the bowl. After a few months, the police broke up the concrete and buried the remains of the bowl again. Photo Courtesy of Josh Baish (2022) Then around 2014 Nude bowl images started surfacing again on the internet. The pool has been dug up again, repaired and is now intact. You are all going to have to look for the location of this pool yourselves, because we decided to keep this one "secret". So happy hunting, shred it whilst you can and behave. Famous skaters having a go at the Nude Bowl Pooling Around: IN THE NUDE FIRE UP The Nude Bowl w/ Pedro Delfino, John Worthington & Cedric Pabich For Indy X Slayer Chris Russell at The Nude Bowl
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What they said back in the 90’s "Heaven is a Halfpipe"... This park is a stunning place to visit! In 2015 they transformed the 200 years old abandoned church into a skaters dream. It’s not just a miniramp in a church. It's the colorful graffiti artwork by Okuda that is breathtaking and makes this place worth a vist. My advise... take your time to check it closely if you are there! The open Bowl/Miniramp had it’s best days cause the surface of the ramp has some holes and cracks (Oct 2021) but it’s a well built ramp and loads of fun. A handful people just travel to that place to take some shots, so most of the time there are no skaters and you’re kind of „alone". An old Lady (the wife of the original owner of the church) opened the doors for us, she just speaks spanish, but she is a lovely soul and really liked to see us skating in that place. The entree for the church is free but we decided to donate 15€ to keep that place alive and hope that some day the ramps get a new surface. Copy and paste to keep such places alive! Project Name by Okuda: KAOS Temple Adress: C. A, 3, 102B, 33428 Coruño, Asturias, Spain Opening Times: 15:00 - 19:00 (on Saturdays closed) Involved: Red Bull / Okuda (Artist @okudart) / Skater: Danny León / Church Brigade Visit Skatepark Visit Pascal Lieleg
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Skateboarding in Portugal Quandary in the Quarry - The Mystery of the Belmonte Bowl. It’s a kidney shaped bowl, wrapped around a half-pipe that leads to a fullpipe ending in a cradle BELMONTE SKATEPARK The village of Belmonte (population: ca. 3500) lies towards the northeastern part of Portugal. It’s head of a rural municipality where you can find about 54 people per square kilometre and where they’re highly likely to be advanced in years, as the ratio of elderly to young people is close to 3:1. Towards the northeastern part of the village, not far from the local Intermarché supermarket, there’s a small residential neighbourhood facing an abandoned quarry. Inside this quarry sits one of the biggest skate bowls in the world. It’s a kidney shaped bowl, wrapped around a half-pipe that leads to a fullpipe ending in a cradle. The pictures should help make this clearer. It’s close to 4 metres deep and has almost a full metre of vert all around. There are oververt extensions over a metre tall. It’s a beast of a thing, especially when you consider the standards of skateboarding and skateparks in Portugal. Anyone that sees it immediately asks himself “What the hell is this doing here?” And it seems to me to be a fair, reasonable question. Anyway, when faced with a Portuguese skate-related mystery, there’s always one thing you can do, and that’s call up Luís Paulo. This dude was the first Portuguese skater ever to get sponsored, one of the few to have met Tony Hawk and the only one to have done an aerial over him, so he’s been in the game for a bit and knows his shit. I thank him for giving us the lowdown on this one. Apparently the whole idea came from the Belmonte Municipality. They are close to Serra da Estrela, the only ski resort in Portugal, where there’s also quite a bit of downhill biking and hang gliding going on in the summer, so they figured a skatepark would attract some of that crowd and get some more visitors to come to the village. Not a bad intuition other skateparks in Portugal See all SKATEPARKS However, as it often happens, they didn’t consult any skateboarders before diving into the project. At the time, the largest skatepark in the world had just been built in Shanghai (SMP Skatepark – it’s since been surpassed by the one in Guangzhou) and the architects hired to do the job in Belmonte decided to take inspiration from one of its sections. They did an impressive job: the bowl is nicely tucked inside the quarry walls, the transition is good and the full pipe and cradle look amazing. The only problem is that vert skaters in Portugal are thin on the ground. They did build a street section above the bowl, but unfortunately they didn’t study this subject as well as the transition bit, and it’s just unskateable. As it is, the Belmonte Skatepark, which was inaugurated in April of 2011, is about to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a still pristine coping. We have seen examples of what can go down at that bowl when the right people find it, but they’ve been few and far between. In 2012, Jake Phelps and the Thrasher crew (P-Stone, Rhino) came by and brought Peter Hewitt, Pedro Barros, and Grant Taylor for some serious ripping. One year later the Carve Wicked team (Sam Pulley, Alex Perelson, Sam Beckett, Rob Smith, etc.) also dropped some hammers. But the place can take it. In fact, it’s begging for it. If you’re into big walls, start planning that trip and type this into your GPS.
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July 28 2022. An illegal DIY park in the middle of Hamburg they just can't get rid of, with a weird mix of skaters, squatters, dealers, drug addicts and tourists taking photos. The Rote Flora theater was constructed in 1835 and was shuttered down after World War II. After the war it turned into a cinema and later on a store. In the late 1980s, locals heard about plans to make the theater into a venue for performances of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Afraid, this would change the area and attract tourists, locals proposed to turn it into a community Centre instead, but this alternative was completely ignored by the city. When in 1988 the rear end of the building was demolished and it didn't take long before sabotage attacks started occurring on the construction site. After a while the city had no other choice then giving the community a temporary lease to use the building. When the lease expired in November 1989, the occupiers stayed and Rote Flora was squatted. The squatters said the building was a "free space for realizing an autonomous life". In 2001 the collective said "We are the 'UFO in the neighborhood'. The black hole in public space. The city won't get rid of us because we are a part of what life is." Regarding the new owner, the collective said "we neither asked Kretschmer to buy Flora, nor are we in the slightest interested in his opinions about the political ideologies and the work of the Rote Flora." Kretschmer had signed with the city a contract that expired in 2011 and that's when a resistance campaign called "Flora remains incompatible" against possible eviction started. Things have remained pretty much the same until 2014, when a change in plans for the site was announced that would ensure the building would not be demolished and could remain a cultural centre (wikipedia). Over the years, Rote Flora has also become a destination for alternative tourism and a popular skate spot. Bang in the middle of the centre of Hamburg, behind the theater you will find the Rote Flora bowl. This DIY project was started by several skaters back in 2005, when they built a miniramp in the backyard of the occupied theater. In between 2005 and 2007 the local founders got professional help by Matt of Minus ramps and they started to built the first part of the bowl. The guys just kept on building and years of extensions later the Flora bowl is known worldwide as one of the oldest and most central DIY skateparks in Germany. What makes this illegal spot really unique is it's location. There's not many spots in the world like this. During the Thrasher Skate Rock Tour Jake Phelps and other American rippers fell in love with the spot cause they were not used to a DIY skatepark that is that close to the center and built illegally. Photos Courtesy of Pascal Lieleg aka Bowlsh!t Visit Rote Flora Skatepark Official Bowlshit Flora Skatepark DIY Documentary
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September 22, 2022 2er DIY Skatepark, one of Europe's largest DIY's, has been revamped and has got some rad new obstacles to hit. We reached out to Yamato Living Ramps to find out more. 2er DIY Skatepark is one main part our company’s foundation. Yamato Living Ramps evolved from 2er skatepark and Betonhausen DIY in Berlin. 2er started with some really simple ramps more than 15 years ago and is now one of Europe’s largest DIY’s. Today it’s run by an official non-profit club, 2er skateboarding e.V. The park has been legal for several years, with differing contracts. Recently, the land got sold to the city of Hannover who then offered the e.V. a 50 year lease. This of course was a big push for more building to be done on the park. We’ve established the Builders Jam format in the past to tackle quick development several times now. Friends and concrete lovers gather from near and far, material, places to crash, food and a ton of drinks are provided, and with a common goal to chase, volunteers are then set free to shape the park. This particular time, Yamato orchestrated a bit more, we tore down a section of the park prior to people arriving, and a rough idea was drafted within the members of the e.V. A big push this time came with the Belgian crew that showed up. It was nice to see the evolution of skills and size of pieces that got tackled. In the end, 2er now features a radical steep bank / built-in loop section, a steep vert QP, a sick granite lip pocket and a dip / step-up push-bump thingy for a ton of new options in the park. Personally, I was sceptical about the work load / fun-skatability ratio of the loop thing, but I got proven wrong. Seeing people pump the doorway and the loop in one flow is pretty rad. I can’t wait for the next section to get build, which – so they say - should then be a more streety bit. Time will tell. Visit 2er DIY skatepark Webiste Yamato Living Ramps
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Prado Beach skatepark, in Marseille, aka Bowl of Marseille, is one of the best in France and also one of the most iconic parks in Europe. Every line was meticulously designed to provide a high, but controlled speed, where physics and aesthetics combine like no other, with the Mediterranean Sea as eyewitness. Tic Tac, tic tac. Everybody knows Newton’s cradle (or pendulum), a gadget of five balls suspended in which we lift one ball at one edge, we release it and the fifth ball rises. It’s the magic of physics. This is one simple way to understand the difference between kinetic energy and potential energy and that's what inspired Jean-Pierre Collinet when he designed the Bowl of Marseille, the most famous skatepark in France and one of the best in Europe. “The bowl is the permanent propulsion of a skateboarder. It might seem something natural, but it’s not. A skater doesn’t have a pedal or other mechanical support. The bowl is the way to transform the potential energy into kinetic energy and vice-versa. I always wanted to preserve energy in this skatepark”, Collinet said in several public presentations and interviews. People say the world is shaped by math and they’re probably right. In the Bowl of Marseille, there is no doubt about it and that’s why it's so unique. Its conception put physics and aesthetics on the same level. In other words: this skatepark was made for speed, high-calculated speed and no waste of power. “The bowl is the way to transform the potential energy into kinetic energy and vice-versa. I always wanted to preserve energy in this skatepark” Jean-Pierre Collinet “There was a boy who had a big pool at his backyard that was 3,30 meters deep. That was when I learned what was possible and not possible to do in a bowl. At the same time, I had a teacher who taught me the concepts of physics”, Jean-Pierre Collinet explained. His studies about how to make interceptions between geometric figures were one of the keys to the success of this project. The best secret of this park: clean and diversified lines and technical transfers. You ride until your breath is over. The Bowl of Marseille was inaugurated in 1991 and was built by Constructo skateparks, It was one fo the first bowls in France and costed around 220.000 euros (a million francs, the former French currency), something like 440.000 euros (482.000 dollars) with the inflation rate. Its importance for concrete skateparks is consensual and the global skate community (not just the French community) recognize it, because it didn’t take much time to become one of the most searched parks worldwide. Tony Hawk gave a hand by displaying it on Pro Skater 2 video game, leveraging Marseille to the top level of skateboarding in Europe. Tony Hawk gave a hand by displaying it on his Pro Skater 2 video game, leveraging Marseille to the top level of skateboarding in Europe. That’s why The Mucem (The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) in Marseille showcases a 1983 Tony Hawks’ skateboard. A revolution happened. Nothing new to this passionate Mediterranean city, after all they are used to hold bigger revolutions, like the History books tell us. All this buzz made the Bowl of Marseille the perfect candidate to host major events, like the Quiksilver Bowlrider, which takes place on the third weekend of May. The resemblances with California are purposeful. Collinet was inspired by the skatepark of Huntington Beach (currently known as Vans Off the Wall Skatepark) and after creating the Bowl of Marseille he found other parks very similar, like the one in Lugano, Switzerland. But you can’t copy the aura. Each park has its own and the Bowl of Marseille is made of love for skateboarding. In 2017 the park was totally renovated (with a cost of 590.000 euros/646.500 dollars, financed by the City Hall) "Prado Beach had some skateble pipelines thanks to the construction of the sewers and I started to ride them. I was used to it because I did that in the USA. People started to go there to see me ripping it”, the skater and architect added. As representative of the King of Spain group (the name of their neighbourhood with the same name in Marseille) Collinet went to the City Hall, advocating for the construction of a skatepark at Prado Beach. The politicians said yes, and the rest is an ongoing story. In 2017 the park was totally renovated (with a cost of 590.000 euros/646.500 dollars, financed by the City Hall), featuring a smooth concrete and all distinctive characteristics that make the Bowl of Marseille unique. For those who still don’t know it, take a note: a spine with 1,70 meters, two separated halfpipes, five bowls with a depth from 1,80 meters to 2,70 meters (this one called ‘the mega’) and a street section. The weather is a perfect ally. Due to the Mediterranean climate, you can skate there almost every day and during night hours, too, because of the artificial lighting. BMXers are allowed to ride but only specific hours, depending on school periods. If Paris is the capital of France, Marseille is the country’s capital of skateboarding. The oldest French city was shaped by many cultures and that diversity is the heart of skateboarding. If you ride there, you will understand it. So, say ‘bonjour’ and go skate. Visit Prado beach skatepark
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July 18 2022. New concrete alert in Dortmund, Germany. We reached out to James Dickerson of Betonlandschaften to find out more. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. Hombruch skatepark is built on an old mining area, in the southwest side of Dortmund, and symbolizes the industrial aesthetic common to the area. The park is located near the EPI-Zentrum Jugendfreizeitstätte Hombruch youth center and was built with both skaters and bikers in mind. The skatepark includes a snake run with tunnel, one large bowl with pool coping, one smaller bowl with steel coping and a street area. The street course is around 900 m² and has all kinds of fun features like a china bank and our machine gun obstacle. The park also includes two asphalt pumptracks, basketball, field, calisthenics, parkour area and a 14 m tall climbing wall. Visit Hombruch Skatepark Visit Betonlandschaften
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FRESH Wasteland concrete in Mafra, Portugal. We reached out to João Sales of Wasteland Skateparks to find out more. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, that sort of stuff. The initial idea was to build a bowl in the Parque Desportivo Municipal de Mafra sports complex. The project was handed out to a random architect, but the measurements were all wrong and the plan was a bit of a mess. That's when we were contacted to do a budget for the project. We told the city hall that we know the local skater community well. Building a huge bowl in that area would be a mistake, because we have build a flow bowl nearby in Venda do Pinheiro. The boys in the area need some street obstacles there too. So, later the contractor asked us to build a different thing. We made a lot of different proposals and the city hall kept on shrinking the area, until they accepted the final project. There is still no date for the official opening, but it's going to be soon, somewhere in August! The concrete is ready, but the park around it still needs it final touches. So hold your horses for a couple more days. Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We kind of feel sorry about the space and feel frustrated because all the decisions made did not evolve the skater community in the Mafra area. Anyway, we were able to turn a small park into a fun little set of good quality concrete. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? We hope to see happy faces at the park. Hopefully the park will provide an area were local kids can progress. That would be a "dream trick" for us. Visit Mafra Skatepark Visit Wasteland Skateparks
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July 22 2022. FRESH Maverick concrete in Wiveliscombe, United Kingdom. A present from the skate gods for a little town with 2893 people. We reached out to Russ of Maverick Skateparks to find out more. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, that sort of stuff. The Locals call the skatepark Wivey, because it's located next to the Wivey Swimming Pool in Wiveliscombe near Taunton, Somerset. The park itself is a cool little concrete flow park with a nice mix of street and transition. The skatepark is circa 8 x 30m and it's officially open! Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We love the beer barrel gap! It's a pretty unique feature. There is a local brewer in the area and we thought it would be a cool thing to do. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? There's a sweet gap over the miniramp platform into the street section. Get down there early......all the lines link up! Such a fun place for the local riders. Visit Wiveliscombe Skatepark Visit Maverick Skateparks
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July 9 2022. My favourite skatepark in the world? Probably Taghazout skatepark, not because of the park itself, but because of where it's located. It's Paradise with an upgrade. In 2022 Taghazout is a popular surf destination in Morocco, but it hasn't always been like that. Back in 1997 I ended up in Morocco after talking to a friend who had discovered this little town, with supposedly insane surf. The "Internet" was still in it's baby shoes, Booking and Trip advisors were inexistent, no information about this spot, and traveling was a lot more difficult back in those days. But, I had a map, drawn on a piece of paper, of a cabin on the beach. Here my friend had stayed with a guy called Abdellah El Ghazal. A couple of weeks later I was in Banana village, took the first left, a dirt road that leads up to the beach and there was the cabin with, behind it, a perfect right going off. Abdellah made me feel at home straightaway and since these holidays Morocco turned into my second home. Since I discovered Taghazout I have gone back 23 times. One thing is for sure, the town has changed dramatically over the years and exclusive resorts are slowly taking over, but it's still a paradise on earth and epic surf just keeps on rolling in every year. And, just when you think things can't get better, in December 2017 paradise was upgraded when the community put all hands on deck to build the skatepark in Taghazout. In contrast to many more recent development projects in Morocco (and the world), Taghazout skatepark was created with and for the community and that makes this spot so special. It's an amazing place that brings together people from literally all around the globe. Taghazout skatepark creates friendships and nationality, class, religion or cultural background makes no difference here. The only thing that matters is that we all skate and have fun. Make Life Skate Life and around hundred volunteers built this one of a kind skatepark in just 3 weeks, in 2017 with the help of Levi's skateboarding and the support of the local government. In a matter of months kids that never skated before were shredding like the park had been there for years. The location couldn't be better. It's located just above the village of Taghazout and is easy accessible by foot or car. You have a non profit association on spot, Taghazout Skate, who provide skateboards and protection for children who can't afford their own. The plan for the future is to extend the park in order to be able to accommodate more youth from low-income families, disadvantaged women and girls and the amount of skaters that are visiting the skatepark from around the world. Visit Taghazout skatepark Discover more about Taghazout skatepark
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July 2 2022 - Interview with Yamato Living Ramps New concrete in Ibbenbüren, Germany. We reached out to Jan Kliewer of Yamato Living Ramps to ask a couple of questions about their latest project. Introduce us to the skatepark - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, who was behind the initiative, if it's already open to the public, that sort of stuff. This is Ibbenbüren skatepark. It‘s in a town 50 km north of Münster, a city older heads might know from the mastership days in 80‘s - 90‘s. The skatepark is surrounded by a wider park area with a lot green areas and measures around 1100m2. It features classic street stuff, a bespoke centerpiece that draws inspiration from a local favourite from an old skatepark and a flowy open bowl/pseudo snake run section. Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? I think the centerpiece with its rainbow slappy really makes a difference. It’s got potential for tricks ranging from simple fly-out stuff, to all sort of transfers and gnarly ride-on grinds or slides. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? As mentioned above, to me ride on stuff on the centerpiece rainbow is where it’s at. Make it some sort of transfer for extra wow! Visit Ibbenbüren Skatepark Visit Yamato Living Ramps
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June 27 2022. Steep down hills, iconic street spots and valid concrete parks, Bilbao is definitely one of Europe's coolest places to be. Last February I went to Bilbao to do some park hunting and check out the local skate scene. My favorite 8? Here they go. Ibarrola skatepark, aka EMB in Bilbao If street is your thing, go to EMB. The spot consists of a statue surrounded by different shaped legdes and blocks, with a perfect flat ground. About a decade ago the city hall wanted to destroy the park, but local skaters fought back and won the battle against the city bureaucrats. Since that day skaters have been organizing the yearly EMB4EVER event to celebrate and remember their victory. Visit Ibarrola skatepark Trapaga skatepark Trapaga skatepark is located on the west side of the river in Valle de Trapaga, just outside Bilbao. The park features a fast and smooth bowl, built by Zutskateparks, that is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and looking for a mellow park to cruise around. Visit Trapaga skatepark Basozelai skatepark Looking for halfpipes or verts? Bilbao has loads of options eg. La Kantera, Areeta, Ansio, Etxerre and Basozelai skatepark. The park also features an open bowl and transition area. Visit Basozelai skatepark Galdakao skatepark Have you ever dreamed about the longest grind you could possibly do in transition? Good news... here is one with about 18m length of coping. Another good thing? You don’t have to check the weather forecast cause this park has a rooftop. The park also offers a lot of space for flatground tricks and street skating. The surface is super smooth to skate and the bowl and miniramp are definitely worth it‘s money. Visit Galdakao skatepark Olabeaga skatepark This concrete park, is located in the centre of Bilbao and has a fun little street section, but the main attraction of the park is definitely the bowl with pool coping. Visit Olabeaga skatepark Sondika skatepark Looking for a spot for an oldschool bowl session? Check out Sondika skatepark, made up of several flat ledges, and a bowl with stone coping. Definitely worth a visit. Visit Sondika skatepark Sopelana Skatepark - A bowl with a view Want to enjoy a session at the beach whilst enjoying a stunning scenery? Sopelana is the place to be. The bowl has a good mix of different type of transitions for beginners, advanced and pros. In the evening it can get crowded until the sun goes down. Visit Sopelana skatepark La Kantera Skatepark - Spain's most Iconic spot Number one of the list is definitely Spain's most inconic park La Kantera, aka Algorta skatepark, built in 1987, thanks to the initiative of a group of local surfers and skaters. In the beginning legends like Txus Domínguez, Alain Goikoetxea, Ivan Fano, Afonso Fernandez etc turned La Kantera into the Mecca of skate in Spain, inspiring the following generations of skaters. 35 years later the park is still a worldwide reference for its radical and creative approach to skateboarding. Visit La Kantera skatepark
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In this episode of Skatepark Showcase, Parksharks takes us to Umatilla a small city in Lake County Florida, north of Orlando. Umatilla skatepark is a basic prefab wooden park. A small park in a small town. But considering Umatilla only has a population of around 3800, I guess they are lucky enough to have a park. If you enjoyed this video please visit the youtube channel of Parksharks and give this man a follow, because he's helping us out big time looking for parks in the United States of America! Visit Skatepark Visit Parksharks
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In this episode of Skatepark Showcase, Park Sharks takes us to coastal Kingsland, Georgia. Kingsland is a small town in Camden county, 32 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. There are only 16,000 people in Kingsland. It's a relatively small town compared to Jacksonville. The Kingsland skatepark is an ARC (American Ramp Company) pre-fab metal skatepark. Wesley takes you around the park with an in-depth look showcasing its strengths and weaknesses. Visit Skatepark Visit Parksharks
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In this episode of Skatepark Showcase, Park Sharks takes us to the Miami Beach Fl area at the Haulover Skateboard Park. There are 90,000 people in Miami Beach. The Haulover Skate Park is a very unique one. It has a street course and a very large pump track. We take you around the park with an in-depth look showcasing its strengths and weaknesses. Visit Skatepark Visit Parksharks
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A Damascus suburb once under siege, now has as place for kids to skate. SOS Children’s Villages Syria and Skate Aid Foundation built a skatepark for the children in Qudsaya. The idea was to give them a place to play, release pent up energy, and begin to heal some of the psychological wounds after years of conflict in the area. Qudsaya was hit bad by the Syrian conflict. Most residents in Qudsaya left their homes for almost a year to escape the daily bombings in the city. When security started to improve in 2016, families returned and new people moved in. However, most of the children in Qudsaya still have no after school activities and no places to play except the destroyed buildings and the streets. Qudsaya skatepark officially opened on 15 July 2019. The skatepark was built in an abandoned park surrounded by buildings where many displaced families live and close to a public school with more than 2,000 students. And all this was made possible by Skate Aid Foundation, a German non-governmental organisation that empowers young people through stakeboard projects around the globe. For the Syria project they raised more than €88,000 through an online crowd funding campaign. A voluntary construction team of eight people from different nationalities came to Syria to build the park in coordination with the team from SOS Children’s Villages Syria. From the moment the volunteers arrived in Qudsaya, many children volunteered to help the construction team. They also asked many questions, the most common being: how can we get skateboards? Skate Aid Foundation responded by promising to ship dozens of skateboards to Syria and volunteers will teach them how to skate. Want to help out with some material? Contact them today. Visit Skatepark Visit Skate Aid Foundation Website
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So, ladies and gentlemen, if you have not already had the pleasure then allow us to introduce you to George Zuko. This dude is a candidate for raddest human in the world today. George has been a talismanic figure in the development of skateboard culture in Kenya. George is a skater who helps run skate camps at an educational orphanage where the country’s first skatepark is located. The Shangilia association which runs the educational orphanage space where the Shangilia skatepark resides work with hundreds of children every day and is one hell of a project that deserves some love and support. Visit Skatepark Visit Shangilia Association Website
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Super stoked to announce that we have Fuerteventura on our map thanks to Pascal, aka Official Bowlshit and Lea, who visited every single skatepark and DIY spot on the Island and send in some top notch photos. First spot is Skombro DIY skatepark, built by a cool dude who used to live on the island. When you get on the highway on the east coast of Fuerteventura drive until you pass Costa Calma… or is it not exactly past there yet and still right in the middle of it? Once you get off the freeway you enter a magical and surreal world with streets and abandoned hotels. And then, in the middle of nowhere, next to a hotel ruin, that was never finished: a DIY spot for skating! This parks was built and created by "Skombropark" a cool dude who used to live on the island of Fuerteventura! OK so how do you get there? A small gravel road, that also leads you down to the beach, will bring you to the skatepark. After about half of the road, park the car and start walking over stones and uneven ground and after two minutes you will arrive at the skate spot. The ramps built next to each other are a bit shabby, but the floor is great for driving. Various obstacles make the fun, next to scree, but with a perfect view of the sea. PERFECT spot to spend the day and get in some surf and skate action! Visit Skatepark Visit Pascal Lieleg
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Text and photos by Haroun Cherif. What's next? What should I do now that I've visited almost every skatepark in Portugal? Visit all the skateparks in Spain? What should I do with Trucks and Fins? This dream of mine, to build the world's largest skate map in the world, has cost me a big part of my savings and I still haven't made the time to think about how I can at least reach a break-even and keep this project going. A lot of questions have been haunting for some time now, so on January 1 2022 I got in my car and started a roadtrip to sort out my head and find the answers. What I didn't realise is that it was going to take me two months on the road to figure things out. More than 8000kms of time to think. The plan of day 1 was simple. Drive as far as I can, visiting all the skateparks that were still missing photos on Trucks and Fins. Before crossing the Spanish border I was able to go to 4 skateparks in Portugal before squeezing in a sunset session at the bowl in Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain. By the time I finished my session it was dark so I decided to ride another 94 kms and find a place to sleep in Salamanca. In the end, I ended up sleeping in my car after visiting a Mercadona and fueling up on food and drinks for the night. Have to confess that I didn't sleep all that well, because it was around 5 degrees outside and my car is a car, not a van. At dusk the next day, after finding myself some coffee and tortilla I was ready for Salamanca. Salamanca is definitely a bucket list city if you like street spots, culture, food and beautiful sceneries. The city is packed with gems to skate along its streets, but skatepark wise you don't have too many options. You have the very basic wooden Elio Antonio de Nebrija skatepark, the concrete street focused Aldehuela skatepark and Plaza Santiago skatepark. If you like transition Salamanca is not the place to be, because the closest bowls are in Ciudad Rodrigo and Valladolid, respectively 94kms and 121 kms away. Mação skatepark in Portugal Mação skatepark, in the Santarém district, features a fun bowl. It's located a bit in the middle of nowhere, in a town populated with 7338 people. It's one of those parks that when you arrive think WTF is this doing here? Castelo Branco skatepark in Portugal The over 4000 square meters Castelo Branco skatepark was designed and built by Academia dos Patins in 2012 and features a nice variety of wooden obstacles to hit. Fundão skatepark in Portugal Fundão skatepark is a basic wooden park built by Academia dos Patins. The park features several ramps on the sides of street obstacles. Belmonte skatepark in Portugal Another WTF experience in a town of 6859 inhabitants where the ratio of elderly to young people is close to 3:1 This park is insane. Check out the Mystery of the Belmonte bowl to discover more. Ciudad Rodrigo skatepark in Spain Ciudad Rodrigo skatepark is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for an easy bowl to cruise around and have some fun. Elio Antonio de Nebrija skatepark in Spain Elio Antonio de Nebrija skatepark is a wooden park with a bank and quarterpipe on the sides of a funbox. Plaza Santiago skatepark in Spain Plaza Santiago skatepark is a popular skateboarding site with a variety of benches, rails, ledges and stairs in a park setting in front of a church. Aldehuela skatepark in Spain Aldehuela skatepark is a large concrete park packed with street obstacles. So that was it for day one: 491 kms, 8 parks on the map. Salamanca done. Stay tuned for more.
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Text and photos by Haroun Cherif Roadtrip Day 2. Sleeping in a car when it's 5 degrees celsius at night without preparing yourself for these temperatures is definitely not a brilliant idea. Woke up just a bit before 6 am, feeling pretty rough. But 2 café solos, a pan com tomate with jamón and some Salamanca air can do miracles. Ready to look for some skateparks. My objective of the day was to visit the 3 skateparks in Salamanca as fast as I can and drive to Valladolid, visiting Zomora skatepark and Toro skatepark along the way. Around 11am, 163 kms and 5 skateparks later I was sitting down in a cafe in Valladolid getting an update from Syed who is taking care of the migration of my new website. Yeeees indeed. There's a new website and progressive web app coming soon! After the meeting I literally spend the next couple of hours in the car, driving from one park to the other like a man with OCD: Pinar de Antequera skatepark, La Flecha skatepark, De la paz Delicias skatepark, La Pala skatepark (absolute waste of my time), Valladolid Pumptrack, Santovenia skatepark, Valladolid skatepark, and Skate Valley. All the skateparks in Valladolid done. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love this area of Spain, but just like Salamanca there are no (public) bowls in Valladolid and I want bowls. So I got back in my car and decided to drive another 53 kms up north to Palencia to check out a new park with a new bowl. After visiting the fun street focused Jardinillos skatepark and the shitty Grijota skatepark on the way I finally had a bowl. Villalobon skatepark in Palencia is definitely worth a visit. When I arrived at the park I straight away knew it was a Daniel Yabar creation and after having a go at the bowl I was 100% sure. You can feel it. The texture of all his parks is always unique. By the time I finished my session in Villalbon it was pitch dark. So I decided to drive another 90kms to Burgos. Two hours later, on the side of the road in Burgos, I found myself a last minute deal on booking and after struggling a bit to find a place to park the car I finally found my way to the Hotel Norte y Londres. 9h30pm. 16 parks in day 2. Not bad day for a days work. A couple of beers and loads of tapas later I was back in the hotel, finally in a bed, uploading all the parks I had discovered that day to the site.
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Red Shelter Bowlpark (Weimar) a massive bowl in the middle of Germany! The park is located a little bit outside from Weimar inner City, what is typical for Germany, because not everybody likes the sound of people skating. It's too noisy for our older generations. The park is super clean and you can see that the locals really take care of this park. All scratches in the concrete are fixed, no graffitis on the ramps and so on. I found the concrete rather rough, but considering the bowl was built in 2008, it's still definitely a beast of a bowl. All transitions are pretty high and vertical. It’s a masterpiece for those who like it hard. Visit Skatepark
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Herzogenaurach the Capital of Adidas & Puma! Yeah, well I know, it's a strong headline but not a strong skatepark. The German way to built most of the skateparks. You create a place with asphalt (tarmac) and put some heavy concrete ramps on it. It’s pretty disappointing to come to the capital of German sports, where big companies like Adidas and Puma where founded and have their main offices, and the city itself just has a crappy skatepark. In summertime the asphalt gets hot and slowly the ramps will sink after years into the asphalt so that you get big dangerous gaps in front of the ramps. The ramps where handcrafted by Populär but not at that location… Populär built ramps in their storehouse and shipped them to the Herzogenaurach where they where placed. You can imagine, that park has no flow and it’s not fun at all to skate there even when some ramps are made of wood. Not worth a visit! Visit Skatepark
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Neumünster skatepark, definitely worth a visit but bring a broom! For sure you’ll need a broom because in evenings the skatepark seems to be the public disco for the youth. It can get pretty dirty with broken glas bottles in the bowl and so on. But let's stay positive, sometimes in skateboarding it is like that… first you have to clean up and pump the water out of the bowl and then you can shred it. The skatepark has a good flow and it features some obstacles you haven’t seen in other parks like the big bank with the wall bricks… Believe me, it’s kind of tricky to shred it. The bowl is a typical masterpiece of Matt and his Team at Minus ramps. Something in between the unusual, pure weirdness and heavy to shred… you’ll need time for this one. It’s definitely worth a visit! Visit Skatepark
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Interview with Canvas Skateparks. It has never been a better time for skaters around the world with skateparks opening like mushrooms on speed and the United Kingdom, since August 2021, is also one park richer: Rushcliffe Country Park skatepark, built by Canvas Skateparks. We talked to Canvas skateparks about their latest project and asked them the usual 3 questions. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. Rushcliffe skatepark in Ruddington - Nottingham has had a long history with skateboarding, in fact, it’s had 3 different versions across my lifetime. It all started with a death-defying 6ft halfpipe with a rusty coping and bumpy wood and steep extension. Enough to make any beginner who stepped foot at the bottom of this beast of a ramp walk away. A couple years down the line an extension was added onto this half pipe – A 3ft mini, a 5ft spine, roll in jump box and another 6ft quarter with an extension. While all this was great, the mini was the only good learning feature, and over time the wood got bumpy and a visit to this skatepark would be often be overlooked in favour of a skate on the street outside my house. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The Latest version of Rushcliffe skatepark is designed to be a plaza, catering for more street orientated skateboarding. Due to the abundance of skateparks in the Rushcliffe area, the idea of a plaza style of skatepark was to complement Radcliffe - a gnarly transition skatepark, as well as Lady Bay – a classic park style of skatepark with a mix of street and transition hence a street plaza added balance into a triad of new, high-quality skateparks in the Rushcliffe area. The special thing about these skateparks is that they are all within a 30-45 min cycle of each other making that skatepark tour of Nottingham that more scenic! Any dream trick or line you’d like to see go down in any of the park’s features or areas? The park spans 18 meters wide by 36 metres long. The plaza is enclosed within a rhythm/pump track section that runs along the outside of the skatepark, a crazy amount of speed can be gained by pumping around smooth concrete blends and flying over steep hips and banks. I’m stoked about the central street section; I had dreamed of doing so much stuff when I first saw the plans for this park! Tre-flip down the stairs, a kickflip backside smith on the mellow hubba and a nollie tre out of the dish (most of these still yet be ticked off the list… This section all your basic street skater needs (apart from a flat bar) can be found here, a small manny pad, kicker to euro gap (which also acts as a manual pad with an out ledge), an insanely buttery marble ledge, A hubba with a lengthy 3 stair on the right-hand side and a mellow bank on the left-hand side. Now they were the “basic” features, this skatepark has 3 unique features which aren’t typically found in your everyday plaza. A mini mini 2ft quarter spanning about 7 meters long. This is ideal for a beginner learning how to drop in, whilst still being incredibly fun for a more advanced skater as it allows for long grinds and impossible lip combos! This has got to be one of my favourite sections. The next item on the list is the raised half-dish, this feature was inspired by ‘stoner’ skatepark in LA, this feature is a wild one to have in a skatepark, it requires quick feet and lots of balance to skate this object with style, this feature is definitely one to play with. The last feature is a triple manny pad-ledge combo, it has a perfectly sized small manual pad at the lowest height which then builds up to two separated blocks with a gap in the middle, the highest part of this feature is a slanted ledge allowing for wall rides off the ledge – the most creative street skaters can find endless possibilities with this setup. The skatepark is now open to the public, there are lots of food and coffee vans right next to the park, all the locals are super friendly and up for a chat, this place is definitely worth visiting. Visit Skatepark Visit Canvas Skateparks website
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Text and photos by Haroun Cherif. You have these spots that once you arrive, you straight away know you are going to go back and Alcochete skatepark is one of those parks. When you think you have found all the parks in Portugal, you discover one more. A while back we got an email from Antonio with the GPS location of a supposed skatepark in Alcochete, that still wasn't on our map. So, we decided to drive to Alcochete and do a spot check, take some photos, play around with the drone a bit and have a little session. The skatepark itself is pretty basic. The park is made up of a miniramp, two flatrails and a quarter. What makes this place special is the location. It's located bang on the artificial beach of Praia dos Moinhos and has a bar/restaurant to finish off your session. Definitely going back here, that's for sure, because it's a nice place to visit and chill for the day. Funny note to end: When I was at the park I started talking to one of the local skaters to learn a bit more about the local skate scene. Funny enough the skater I was talking to turned out to be Antonio who had send us the location. Visit Skatepark
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Rotenburg (Wümme) got a new skatepark and it's small, but powerful! Rotenburg is located between Hamburg and Bremen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. If you travel from one city to the other you’ll cross Rotenburg for sure. Since the end of April 2021 the redesigned skatepark is open and transition lovers are going to dig this park, but pay attention to the opening times from 08:00 - 21:00, otherwise you might meet the neighbours, who at times can get angry ;). When you're entering the skatepark on the right side is the flow park area and on the left side is a tight left sided kidney bowl with a full concrete coping and tiles for the old school feeling. In the flow park area all metal copings are cutted (Diamond Coping). Oh damn. what a sound! Amazing! A local skater named Gunnar with long Dreadlocks imitated the redesign. You might see him while you’re skateing there, so bring some beers and hand him a couple, because he deserved it! Visit Skatepark Visit Anker website
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A bucket list DIY spot in Switzerland, though the lens of Pascal Lieleg First things first… as always when you enter a new skatepark it’s easier when you start to say a friendly „Hello“ to the locals who may be the kid of someone who has built the ramps and bowl. In switzerland you can say „Salü“ when you want to say it in the local way. The Bowl ist super flowy and loads a lot of possibilities for different kind of lines. You’ll find a deep end with a deathbed and concrete coping wich is perfect for grinds. I really enjoyed the multicolor mixe of the tiles and all the funny stuff around the bowl, sloppy curbs, beer can coping and that kind of DIY stuff. The Bowl is 4 years old and is build as a project for and with the youth. It’s located close to the river „Aare“. And in the summer locals jump into the river to cool down and chill beside the riverbed. If you ever have the chance to make it to Switzerland check this one out. Visit Skatepark Pascal Lieleg on Instagram
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Interview with Yamato Living Ramps. The Yamato Living Ramps crew just finished a small bowl/mini/micro in Herzberg and we reached out to them to ask our usual 3 questions about their latest project. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. I think Herzberg (Elster) skatepark came out really nice regarding looks and surroundings of the place, despite the lack of crazy extra features and relatively moderate size of around 250m2. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? On the backwalls there are a few small street features like a small wallie ledge, manny pad and bank. Any dream trick or line you’d like to see go down in any of the park’s features or areas? I think it's fun to ride since on this size of tranny you can try any trick imaginable without having to fear gnarly slams too much. Would be sick to see someone transfer from tranny to steep bank. Visit Skatepark Visit Yamato website
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One thing that, luckily for us skaters, didn't stop during this pandemic is the build of new skateparks. Take a look at the brand new indoor skatepark Beastwood in Brugge, built by Nine yards skatepark. Thanks Jim Arendse for answering are usual three questions about the new park. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. This is Beastwood Skatepark in Bruges Belgium (Grasdreef 6). It is an indoor skatepark that combines transition skateboarding with a lot of street elements. With little over 650m2 the skatepark still feels very spacious and offers something for almost all skaters. Material-wise we tried combining concrete elements and wood, which turned out really nice. From the 9th of june the park will be open for the public to shred! We can't wait for the locals to do some crazy stuff there, the skate scene of Bruges is really dedicated and raw. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We are happy with the whole park, but for most of us the little tranny corner really stands out. Usually we make pretty mellow, but high transitions which work really well. But this time we took a different turn and went for steep and low, the locals that had a 'secret' early session really liked it so far! Any dream trick or line you’d like to see go down in any of the park’s features or areas? There is actually an extension of the actual building inside the skatepark where the toilet is located. It is kind of strange that it's there, but gives the park a fun dynamic. The first time I was there I immediately thought of the idea of someone dropping in from that roof into a quarterpipe we built against that wall. A few days ago Jeroen Bruggeman posted a clip of him doing it. We were super stoked that he did that already, which only shows that there will be a lot more sick tricks going down there. Visit Skatepark Visit Nine yards website
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The Ultimate skate road trip in Portugal - Planning some skate holidays? Make sure you hit these spots! When I started skateboarding 4 years ago nobody actually knew how many skateparks there where in Portugal. I actually had difficulties finding new parks to skate in the weekend. So one day I decided to map out the whole country for the skater community here. The mission was to find and skate every park, mini and DIY spot in the country and build the first map of all the skateparks in Portugal. 17 months later: 199 skateparks in Portugal. So, imagine you want to do a roadtrip from the North of Portugal to the South, where should you go? Here's 10 spots you should burn. Braga skatepark The skatepark in Braga, built by Academia dos Patins, is a bucket list spot for every skater. The park features one of the best bowls in the country, a street area and even has a small modular pumptrack. Braga Skatepark (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Belmonte skatepark The village of Belmonte lies towards the northeastern part of Portugal. It’s head of a rural municipality where you can find about 54 people per square kilometre and where they’re highly likely to be advanced in years, as the ratio of elderly to young people is close to 3:1. Towards the northeastern part of the village, there’s a small residential neighbourhood facing an abandoned quarry. Inside this quarry sits one of the biggest skate bowls in the world. Discover more about the Belmonte Blog here. If you like it big, you know where to go. Belmonte Skatepark Alcobaça skatepark Alcobaça is a city and a municipality in Central Portugal, and is definitely worth a visit if you are roadtripping in Portugal. Designed and built by Wasteland Skateparks in 2018, the skatepark features a kidney bowl and a smooth and fun street section. Alcobaça Skatepark Boardriders Ericeira This skatepark is a private park (no entrance fee) located in the Quicksilver shop in Ericeira, near the beach front (so yes, perfect place to skate and surf). The skatepark features one of the most challenging bowls in the country and was designed and built by ZUTskateparks in 2011. Boardriders Skatepark Monsanto skatepark Monsanto skatepark was designed by Francisco Lopez and built in 2018. You can find the park in the Parque de Merendas da Alameda Keil do Amaral. The skatepark features a fun bowl and is a great local spot with a focus on street style skating and has a wide variation in obstacles to hit. Monsanto Skatepark (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Campolide skatepark Campolide skatepark, also known as Bairro da Liberdade skatepark ,was designed by Franisco Lopez and opened in February 2020. Located under a bridge overpass, it's the perfect spot for rainy or hot days. Campolide Skatepark Chelas skatepark Chelas skatepark also know as Skatepark de Marvila is located in City Park Vale de Chelas. The concrete skatepark was designed and built in 2013 by Francisco Lopez and funded by Rock and Rio. The skatepark features a large street section with flow and one of the biggest bowls in the country. Chelas skatepark Parque das Gerações skatepark Parque das Gerações skatepark was inaugurated in 2013 by the Municipality of Cascais who invested more than 300.000€ to build one of the best skateparks in the country (at the time). The park features a snakerun, bowl and two separate street sections, nicely interconnected. What really makes the park special is it's users, location, bar and sunsets. Parque Das Gerações Loulé Skatepark Loulé is the largest municipality in the Algarve and includes well-known towns near the sea (like Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago) but also features one of the best skateparks in the Algarve. Loulé skatepark features a bowl and plaza style street area. Loulé Skatepark Albufeira skatepark Featuring a massive street area packed with multiple stairsets, a snakerun and bowl, Albufeira skatepark, designed by Francisco Lopez, is definitely a bucket list spot if you are tripping in the Algarve. Albufeira skatepark Ever visited one of these parks? Visit the parsk on Trucks and Fins and RATE/REVIEW today.
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Scharbeutz is normally known as a place for snobby tourism, sailing and wellness. The little area where the skatepark is located is totally different. A skatepark right on a white sandy beach is something unusual in Germany, plus it’s well built too. The street section is very flowy. The bowl is mellow and well-balanced: not too hard not too easy. After a good skate session you can take a swim and chill at the beach. Once there was a shitty skatepark there but in 2019 Ralf Maier and his Betonlandschaften team redesigned it and gave life to this jewel. There are just a few local skateboarders and a lot of scooter kids (mostly tourist kids I guess) you’re gonna have to teach skatepark rules to. One last advice: if you’re planning on going there you’ll need a broom - you’re next to the beach with sometimes a lot of wind, so the park and the bowl will definitely be sandy. Visit Skatepark Pascal Lieleg on Instagram
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Malaga is a special place and absolutely rocks if you are a skater. The streets are packed with hidden spots and people who like transition have so many quality parks.
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Interview with Maverick Skateparks On your next annual bike tour through Cornwall, you might want to ditch the old two-wheeler and exchange it for some pushwood. The new St Ives skatepark has just opened through the combined efforts of the St Ives Skatepark Project, the local council and Maverick Skateparks Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. St Ives Skatepark is located in Penbeagle Lane. It's a progressive mix of street and transitional terrain. It's huge! It's a free to use, public space. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The Vortex and the Pool came out so good. They are a joy to look at and a joy to ride! Any dream trick or line you’d like to see go down in any of the park’s features or areas? Seeing the local riders going upside down in the Vortex is awesome! Visit Skatepark Visit Maverick website
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Our friends at Nine Yards Skatepark Co. have just finished a new project and were cool enough to take a couple of minutes to give us a quick presentation of the spot. Voilà! Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. This is the Haagse Beemden (HB) Skatepark, it is located in one of the neighbourhoods in Breda. The local municipality is really investing in its skate scene lately, which is great. Besides a lot of good skateparks, Breda has plenty of spots you can skate without getting kicked out. The Haagse Beemden Skatepark is a great mix of street elements and transition and is around 700m2. We really did our best to make it an aesthetic park with some cool details in it. The lines you see running through the park are granite floor tiles we worked into the concrete to give the park an extra dimension. It is currently open to the public and can be skated from 8 in the morning to 10 at night. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We are really pleased with the granite floor tiles in the park, it's a nice detail to the park and gives it a special feeling while riding through the park. We also tried to be creative with some of the obstacles and features. The park is really diverse and you can figure out a lot of different lines! My personal favorite is the red rainbowrail we put in the skatepark. Did you have time to skate it? What was the best run or trick you did there or that you saw someone else do? A few weeks ago when the construction was completely finished we had a nice skate session with some of our team members and Flatspot magazine. Great fun, and a lot of guys shredded the park! Visit Skatepark Visit Nine Yards website
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Our friends at Maverick Skateparks have just finished a new project and were cool enough to take a couple of minutes to give us a quick presentation of the spot. Voilà! Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. Sidmouth Skatepark is a transition and street facility. The free-flow closed bowl is linked into a street area via a stairset and some fun transfers. It occupies a 45m x 15m space with the access. It's a free-to-use community space and a progressive design that could hold events. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The Bowl is the jewel in the crown with a fun clamshell extension leading into the deep. The kinked stairset and ledges also look pretty special! We are really stoked on how they turned out! Did you have time to skate it? What was the best run or trick you did there or that you saw someone else do? Due to Covid restrictions the facility has only recently opened but we are keen to get back over there for a roll. Visit Skatepark Visit Maverick website
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Maverick Skateparks have recently finished a little gem of a bowl in the heart of Dorset. We asked them the usual three little questions. Don’t forget to check the bowl’s page at the end for more information. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. Beaminster Bowl is a retro style bowl with spine, mini snake run and clamshell extension. The dimensions are 26m x 15m and it's a free-to-use space, already open to the public. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We loved the Beaminster project because the whole space has been dedicated to creating a really fun and flowing bowl. Did you have time to skate it? What was the best run or trick you did there or that you saw someone else do? It feels great just carving the corners and working out the lines. Visit Skatepark Visit Maverick website
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Another fresh project built by Maverick Skateparks. The guys themselves present you with a little teaser. Introduce us to the park – tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it’s already open to the public, that sort of stuff. Bodmin Skatepark is situated in the Recreation Ground. It's a 20m x 30m transition and street facility. It's already open to the public and a free-to-use facility. It features an open bowl with roller to jumpbox setup. There's also a long wallie ledge and inline hip with rail. Is there any feature of the park that you’re particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The bowl is really special. It's an open bowl that features hips and some riding lines that enable you to stay within it. Quite often open bowls fire you back out into the park... this one is different! Did you have time to skate it? What was the best run or trick you did there or that you saw someone else do? Always try to pop in when we are passing! It's great seeing people carve the bowl and setting up airs over the jumpbox. The roller gives you that extra boost! There's a great video of local skater Josh Roundhead sessioning the box. Visit Skatepark Visit Maverick website
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Ameixoeira Skatepark, Lisboa. The Ameixoeira Skatepark has been sitting on the northern edge of Lisboa since 2018 like some kind of weird kidney (looks great on the drone shot). Besides the bowl, two parallel runs go downhill, making us think of slopestyle snowboarding. Watch those still shiny features being put to good use as Keanu Schwedt and Patrick Costa go mostly upstream like two salmon and punish some rails.
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We are in Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. To be more precise, in Lankow, a suburb of the city of Schwerin, in which prefabricated buildings are lined up and slowly falling apart. The friends in the skate park call themselves Lankow Locals, their district "Lankow Demolition". Around 50 people make up the hard core, another 200 loosely belong to it. The Lankow skatepark is the most important meeting place for the group, they have been coming here for over 15 years. People who at first glance don't have much in common: doctors who want to escape everyday life; People who have served prison terms; Young people who live in the prefabricated buildings and do not notice much from their parents. The elders give them shirts and old skateboards, but they don't give them any rules. In 2019 the “old” park got an update by minus ramps and the local hero Florian “Flower” Fentzahn and a flowpark with all kinds of transitions was the result. Once a year they organize a skate contest, which is much more of a family get-together than a sporting competition. The skate park is everything, just not everyday life. Check out their website!
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The skatepark Bonn is not only a place for hard skaters to come together, but cultural offers are not neglected here either. In order to write an adequate article about the new skate park in Bonn, you should take a closer look at the history of Bonn's skate scene. There is hardly a city in Germany that has such an eventful and multifaceted history in terms of skateboarding as our former capital. Yes, Bonn was once the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, even if the city with its then only 400,000 inhabitants was by no means the largest of the former West Germany. After a long time planing and calculating with the city, the last doubters were overruled and after all building permits had been granted in autumn 2017, things could finally start. First the adjoining building was renovated and converted into a cafe. In March 2018, the first concrete began to flow, which the guys from "Anker Rampen" and energetic locals quickly brought into a suitable shape. With the opening on August 8, 2018, they stayed completely on schedule and so the skatepark could already be fully used in the never-ending summer of 2018. The skatepark Bonn is not only a place for hard skaters to come together. Even if it is basically about skateboarding, cultural offers are not neglected here either. Readings are held, events such as concerts and BBQs are held, and there are exhibitions and workshops. Yoga courses are also new to the program. At the "Rolling Titus Bonn Bar" you not only get rental equipment, but also skate hardware and spare parts for BMX riders. On top of that, the "SkateCollage Bonn" offers courses for beginners on the skate and longboard. So you can see - something is going on in Bonn. Visit Bonn Skatepark
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The construction on the new BMX track in Quarteira is pretty close to being finished. It’s quite a fancy affair with a 12 metre high start hill, 420 metres of track, jury stand, locker rooms, bleachers that can seat 800, led ligthing, the works. The Loulé Municipality spent 600.000€ on it, which is impressive when you consider the Portuguese context of public investment in any other sport outside of bloody football. Plus, they did it in strict collaboration with the local BMX club, Asas da Cidade. We give them much deserved props for that. We’ve contacted Loulé city council and they let us know that they’ll be announcing an official opening date soon. So keep those eyes peeled and start fasting now, if you’re not already, cause you’ll be having a whole lot of brand new dirt to eat. Visit Track
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São Domingos da Rana has a new skatepark, but is it worth visisting? When I found out they were building a new skatepark in São Domingos da Rana, only a 10 minute drive from my home, I got all excited and decided to go check it out with a couple of friends. We stayed about 15 minutes and then went to a real park. DISCOVER SÃO DOMINGOS DA RANA SKATEPARK
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Looking for a skatepark in Cascais to avoid weekend crowds, when Parque das Gerações is packed with scooter kids and schools? The skatepark in Torre is a valid option. Located next to the Dramatico Sports complex, you will find the little skatepark of Torre. The municipality of Cascais renovated the skatepark back in 2017 and the job was executed by Academia dos Patins. The renovation of the skatepark cost 35000€. Skatepark Torre is approximately 600 square meters large and is equipped with quarters, funbox, jumpbox, ledge, hubba, and handrail. The skatepark also has lights. Visit Torre skatepark Visit Academia dos Patins
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Stop number seven on our search for skate spots in Portugal is a skatepark in a village called Maça ("Apple") near Sesimbra. The district of Setubal is getting well equipped with skateparks and we went to do a Spot check in a park in Sesimbra. Maça skatepark is another creation of Academia dos Patins, built in 2017. The skatepark is a wooden street focused park in a back and forth setup. You can find the skatepark in Parque Augusto Pólvora park in Maça, 4 kilometers north of from Sesimbra. The municipality of Sesimbra transformed the old camping site into a well park equipped with loads of other activities and playgrounds for children. Congratulations to the townhall of Sesimbra with this well thought out and executed project.
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So, you wanna visit Lisbon and looking for skateparks? Here are our top 10 in the city. When I started skateboarding at the age of 42 I started visiting different skateparks during the weekends. You know, skate something different and get away for a bit, visit new places. After a short while I found it was difficult to find new skateparks and was surprised to find out that there was not one website with all the skateparks and miniramps in the country. So I, with the help of a friend, decided to make a website for the skater community in Portugal. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Before we knew it we had 128 skateparks, mini ramps and hotels with bowls in continental Portugal on our bucket list. Skateparks have been popping up like mushrooms the last couple of years and the district of Lisbon now has a total of 34 skateparks. And today we want to share with you our favourite 10 bucket list spots in and near the city of Lisbon. Chelas skatepark Chelas skatepark, aka Skatepark de Marvila, is a concrete park located in City Park Vale de Chelas. The skatepark was designed and built in 2013 by Francisco Lopez and funded by Rock and Rio. The skatepark features one of the largest bowls in Portugal and a large street section with a good variety of obstacles and a nice flow. Visit Chelas skatepark Parque das Gerações Skatepark Parque das Gerações skatepark, aka PDG, was inaugurated back in 2013 by the Municipality of Cascais who invested more than 300000€ to build one of the best skateparks in the country. The skatepark was designed by Francisco Lopez. In 2017 Parque das Gerações won the OP2017 (another 300000€ investment in new infrastructures), more than 5 years later the users are still waiting for the extension of the park. Visit Parque Das Gerações skatepark Monsanto skatepark It’s in Monsanto Park, almost three times bigger than Central Park in New York, in sunny Lisbon, that lies one of Lisbon's best skateparks. Monsanto skatepark was designed by Francisco Lopez in 2018. You can find the park in Parque de Merendas da Alameda Keil do Amaral. You will have to park your car somewhere and walk a good 100 meters to reach the park, because it's tucked up in the forest. The skatepark is made up of a bowl and street section with a nice variety of obstacles. A broom is a good tool to bring. If you are the first person at the park you will have some cleaning to do. The trees provide shade, but also fills the park with morning "death-traps". Visit Monsanto skatepark (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ameixoeira skatepark Ameixoeira skatepark is a concrete park designed by Francisco Lopez and built in 2018. The skatepark is made up of a bowl and a street section in an interesting setup. Visit Ameixoeira skatepark Pedrouços skatepark Pedrouços skatepark is a concrete park built in 1996 and it's also one of the oldest skateparks in Portugal. No need to say it‘s an iconic skatepark in Lisbon that's definitely worth a visit. Visit Pedrouços skatepark Odivelas skatepark Odivelas skatepark, aka Torre do Skate Park, is one of the oldest skate parks in Portugal and definitely an iconic bucket list spot in Lisbon. The park was last renovated by Wasteland Skateparks and Academia dos Paitins in 2020. Visit Odivelas skatepark Bairro de Liberdade Skatepark Bairro da Liberdade skatepark, aka Campolide skatepark, is a concrete park located under a bridge overpass, designed by Franisco Lopez. The park opened in February 2020 and is located near Liberdade Atletico Club. Bairro da Liberdade skatepark is one of the only options in Lisbon when it rains or when it's too hot. Visit Campolide skatepark Expo pumptrack Expo Pumptrack, aka Parque Das Nações skatepark, consists of two separate asphalt tracks, a beginner and a large pro track. The pumptracks were built by Velosolutions in 2020 for an estimated cost of 236000€. The Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championship were held here in 2021. Located 100 meters from the Expo pumptrack you find the Expo skatepark. Visit Expo Pumptrack (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Caxias skatepark Caxias skatepark is a wooden park, built by Academia dos Patins back in 2018. The skatepark is located right next to the train station in Oeiras in Jardim de Caxias park. The skatepark features a mix of bike and skate obstacles. Definitely a fun park to hit during the week, but can get crowded in the weekends. Visit Caxias Skatepark Expo skatepark The skatepark in Parque das Nações park has been around for a couple of decades, was closed for a long time and badly "renovated" by the City Hall of Lisbon in 2020. The Expo skatepark, aka Parque das Nações skatepark, features a bowl, street section and is located approximately 100 meters from the Parque Das Nações pumptrack, currently the best asphalt track in Portugal. Visit Expo Skatepark
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Super news for the skater community in Lisbon. Torre do skate park is being renovated and it's looking damn nice. Refurbished Odivelas skatepark reopens at the end of February 2020. The municipality of Odivelas has started the renovation of the skatepark in Odivelas which will cost a total of 89800€. The estimated time to finish the renovation of this iconic skate spot in Lisbon is 90 days. The original park was designed by Luis Paulo back in 2001, who also renovated it several years later. At the time the municipality of Loures was responsible for the creation of this skate spot. The second renovation of the park is being executed by Wasteland ramps and by the end of February Lisbon will finally have one of it's most famous spots back in prime state. Discover more about Odivelas "Torre do Skate Parque".
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We started searching for skateparks in Portugal one year ago and found 126 skateparks in continental Portugal that are still open. But we only found one indoor: Quantum skatepark. Is this the only indoor in Portugal? When we started searching for skateparks one year ago we discovered 132 skateparks in continental Portugal. We were able to scratch off 6 skateparks off the list, after confirming with the municipalaties that they don't exist anymore or have been demolished. Eg. Baixa da Banheira bowl, Portimão skatepark, Torres Vedras indoor, Fabrica 22, Monção skatepark, ... This basically means that Porugal has one skatepark for every 706 square kilometers, but we only found one indoor in the whole country: Quantum skatepark. In case somebody knows another indoor please contact us and let us know where, so we can add the spot to our map! Quantum park is equipped with 3 miniramps: one small one (perfect to train new tricks on), one medium sized mini ramp and one larger miniramp that is positioned next to an inflattable, which makes it perfect to train new tricks in the air. So on rainy days you know where to go! Want to discover more about Quantum park? Click here.
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One more district completed! Discover all the skateparks in the Leiria district. We have officially visited all the skateparks in the district of Leiria, a city and municipality in the central region of Portugal. Last Sunday we woke up 5h30 am and after a quick coffee we were on our way to Vila Nova de Poiares in Coimbra. Mission of the day? Drive back down to Estoril and visit as many skateparks as possible. 9 hours later we discovered 7 new skateparks. Five skateparks in Coimbra and two parks that were still on our bucket list in the district of Leiria. Did you know that Leiria has one skatepark for every 351 square kilometers? If you ever visit Leiria and want to go skateboarding, where should you go? Well, here is a list of all the skateparks in the area! Alcobaça skatepark Skatepark do Avião Pataias skatepark Caldas da Rainha skatepark Leiria skatepark Nazaré skatepark Marinha Grande skatepark Milagres skatepark (in need of some maintainence) Leiria brick factory (super cool DIY, but needs some attention) Peniche skatepark (only if you are desperate) If you know of a skatepark or miniramp that is not on our list please send us an email and let us know where! Do you have a business related to skateboarding (shop, lessons or hotel) in the area? Contact us so we can enlist your business on our map today.
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Next stop in Rio Maior with Keanu Schwedt, winner of the Hot Wheels Junior Series in Portugal 2019. Our next stop on our search for skateparks in Portugal is Rio Maior skatepark. After being contacted by Denis, a local skater of Rio Maior, asking us to do a video in his local skatepark we decided to head up to Rio Maior to put this skatepark on our map. After making some calls we were on our way with a crew of five to meet Denis and some other local skaters in Rio Maior. Since we started Trucks and Fins we have had the opportunity to skate with some awesome people and this time we had the pleasure to take Nico (the French dude asking me to put the seat forward), Benny (the driver who was telling me to put the seat up) and his 12 year old son Keanu Schwedt, along. A special congratulations to Keanu who just won the under 14 category of the Hot Wheel Junior Series in Portugal. Congrats buddy and good luck in Woodward! But before he heads off to the USA we had the opportunity to see him in action in Rio Maior. Discover more about the skatepark in Rio Maior Instagram Keanu Schwedt
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Next stop: Vila Franca de Xira skatepark near Lisbon. We found our 11th bowl in the district of Lisbon! Although this skatepark was built back in 2011, we only discvovered this park a short while back and decided to go and have a look. It was definitely worth the ride and super cool to have the park just for ourselves on a Sunday at 10am. So if you are ever in the Lisbon area head to Forte da Casa in Vila Franca de Xira if you want to avoid the weekend crowds. Find out more about the skate parque Vila Franca de Xira: https://www.trucksandfins.com/en/spots/skateparks/Vila-Franca-de-Xira-skatepark/87/
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Episode 16 on our search for skate and surf is a gem of a park in Alcobaça Portugal, built by Wasteland in 2019, and for this spot we took a local ripper from Oeiras along. So what's next? We decided to team up with several skaters in Portugal to take them along on our search for skateparks in Portugal. And our first stop is Alcobaça skatepark with Patrick Costa (Bana family) who is finally back in the game after being out for several months due to an ankle injury. Discover more about the skatepark in Parque Verde de Alcobaça Check out and connect with Patrick Costa
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Every time we think we found all the skateparks in Portugal, we discover one more and this one was almost right under our nose. Last weekend we were on our way to Bairro Horizonte in Olaias, after receiving an email from Tiago Veiga who discovered one more spot that wasn't on our map. Cheers for that! We are sure there still must be skateparks or miniramps out there in Portugal that we have to include on our skate map, but how did we miss this skatepark in Lisbon?! We decided to call Patrick Costa and Keanu Schwedt to see if they knew about the skatepark. And, just like us, they had never heard about it either. So we didn't have to ask twice if they wanted to join and help us put one more skatepark on our map. Discvover more about the skatepark in Olaias.
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Stop nº18 on our search for skate and surf spots is a beauty: Ameixoeira skatepark in Lisbon. If you ever visit Lisbon and are looking for skateparks then put Ameixoeira skatepark on your bucket list. The skatepark in Ameixoeira was designed in 2018 by Francisco Lopez, who has built some of the best skateparks across Portugal and with his innovative designs has changed the skatepark game in Portugal completely. In the skatepark you can find a bowl and a plaza style street area that are interconnected with two corridors with various obstacles that makes the transition between the two areas very interesting. You can find this skatepark in the Parque Urbano Vale da Ameixoeira. Skaters in the video: Patrick Costa and Keanu Schwedt. Discover more about Ameixoeira skatepark.
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In just a couple of more weeks Lisbon will have it's first two asphalt pumptracks in Parque Tejo in Lisbon ready and it's looking freaking cool! Pretty soon you will be able to ride two different pumptracks next to the Tejo river. This project features one asphalt pumptrack for beginners and one pumptrack for more advanved bikers, skaters and carvers. Can't wait to have a go at this, because both pumptracks look promising! The pumptracks are located 100 meters from the Expo skatepark. Have you skated either of these parks before? Search for Expo skatepark or Expo pumptrack and rate them today! Let other know what you thinks and let's find out what park is the favourite of skaters in Portugal! Other pumptracks in Portugal: Alto do Lumiar, Braga pumptrack and hotel FeelViana.
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After demolishing the old mythical spot Largo do Convento de Jesus, Setúbal finally has a skatepark again. This spot was designed by Francisco Lopez and was finished during the lockdown 2020. The 850 m² skatepark features an area dedicated to street with all kinds of obstacles and classic kidney shaped bowl. This week we decided to go and check it out and we liked it so much that we went back to have a second go at it. Find out more about the new skatepark in Setubal. Address skatepark Setubal: Rua dos Arcos 14, 2900-242 Setúbal, Portugal. Special thanks to Glen Jones for the photos.
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Official opening São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark: August 2 2020. Last weekend we went to test out the new skatepark in São Pedro da Cadeira. The skatepark was built by Wasteland Skateparks and features a ledge, quarter pipe, kicker and a classic bowl with tiles and a stone coping. The little park is beautifuly integrated into the new 31.447 m2 Parque Verde de São Pedro da Cadeira. The total cost of this new park was around 327.279,66€. Discover more about São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark.
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Monsanto skatepark is definitely a must visit spot if you are in the Lisbon area. Perfect spot to cruise around on warmer days. Spot nr 28 on our mission to surf and skate every spot is Portugal is Monsanto skatepark. The park was designed by Francisco Lopez back in 2018. The skatepark features a fun bowl and large street area. The park is located in Parque Florestal de Monsanto in Lisbon and it's an ideal spot to go to when it's boiling hot. But don't forget to bring a broom, because you might have some cleaning to do before you start. Have you skated here yet? Visit our Monsanto spot page and rate the park. Let others know what you think! Skaters in the video: Patrick Costa and Keanu Schwedt.
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When you think you have found all the skateparks in Portugal, there's always one more. A while back we got an email from somebody telling us about this park somewhere in Apelação in Lisbon. We were quite surprised to hear about this park, because by now we were convinced we had every single skatepark on the map in Lisbon. No need to say, we went to check it out on google maps. And there it was and it looked damn promising. We could see the park had several bowls and a large street area and adrenaline levels started rising. So I called up the crew and we went to check it out. We were super stoked... until the moment we stepped out of the car a had a look at the park: an abandoned bar, pretty sketchy neighbourhood, faeces in the bowl, broken glass and garbage everywhere. To skate this park you need to bring a cleaning crew, cement and some copings, because most of them have been ripped out probably to be sold somewhere as old metal. Well anyway, we didn't skate it, because it would have taken us several hours to clean, but maybe one day the city hall will remember about this forgotten gem. And the day they fix this park we will be back for sure. Find out more about Apelação skatepark.
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Two Sundays ago was a bit of a journey and didn't exactly go as planned, but at least we nailed 4 parks that day. Our mission was to skate Apelação skatepark, but like you could see in our prior blog the skatepark wasn't in any skating condition. So we decided to head up to the bowl in Vila Franca de Xira instead. By accident we (I) got on the Vasco da Gama bridge and that is a bit of a f#ck up because it's the longest bridge in Europe. So basically it was a detour of about 34 kilometers if I wanted to turn back. So we decided to check out some parks on the other side of the Tejo. When we arrived at the park in Samora Correia we couldn't believe our eyes. A total disaster of a park. Basically the city hall handed it over to an architect who probably never built a skatepark before and who decided to pack it with unskateble rails and stairs. So we got back in the car and found ourselves on the way to the third skatepark of the day in Vila Franca de Xira. It was our first time here and it's definitely skateable but nothing super exciting so in the end we got back in the car and drove to the Forte da Casa bowl in Franca de Xira. Special thanks to Glen Jones for the photos and Keanu Schwedt for the show.
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August 24, 2022 New concrete in Inukjuak, one of the most remote areas in Canada, and you're going to need a plane or boat if you want to skate here. Caroline Gleason, a teacher in the hamlet of about 1821 residents (2021 Canadian Census), was the person behind the whole project. Her dream was to build a skatepark for the kids who spend their summers in the community, because unfortunately they don't have much to do there. Caroline brought together a variety of partners from the public and private sectors to make this happen: the Northern Village of Inukjuak, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health, Social Services, CRT Construction, the non-profit Make Life Skate Life, and several local businesses. We reached out to Arne, from Make Life Skate Life, to find out more. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. Inukjuak Skatepark is 300m² and located in the small town of Inukjuak in Northern Quebec, Canada. Inukjuak is very remote and can only be reached by air travel. The park is beginner's oriented with a long bank with slappy and igloo features on one side, a long quarter with extension on the other, and a tiny rooftop, medium size ledge, flatrail, mannipad and small pyramid in the middle. Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The skatepark skates super well and all features also work super well together. The big advantage for the local kids is that they can do laps around without having to stop. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? We just want to see the locals take up skateboarding and progress. But there is a lot of talent and motivation so we're sure that there will be some rippers coming out of the park. Visit Inukjuak skatepark Find out more about Make Life Skate Life
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September 10, 2022 Good news for the skaters in Hayling Island who said fairwell to the old metal and wooden ramps and now have a legit concrete park, designed by Maverick skateparks. Funding of the park was secured by Havant Borough council together with The Hayling Skatepark Project, who raised more than 207000 pounds to make their dream come true. We talked to Maverick skateparks, the UK’s leading skatepark builder, to find out more about Hayling Island skatepark. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. The Hayling Island skatepark is located in a perfect position, down at the seafront on the Island. It's a super fun, Street 'n' Bowl Flow kind of park, and it's brand new......just opened to the public! Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We love the flow of the park, the techy curb in and out of the bowl and the unique Pier 7. Oh and it's got some cool seating! Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? There's some awesome gaps to try out and loads of technical tricks to be had on the street kit. Just looking forward to seeing the place come alive with local riders. Visit Hayling Island skatepark Find out more about Maverick skateparks
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September 18, 2022 Good news for the skaters and bikers in Meerbusch. The new Meerbusch skatepark and bike park is officially open. We reached out to James Dickerson of Betonlandschaften to find out more. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. It's more of a flow park with an integrated bowl. It is approximately 700 m² of concrete and features various banks, manny pads and a flat rail. It was officially opened this summer 2022 and was built by Camp Ramps. The design was developed together with local youth who also raised money in order to get the project going. Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? The surrounding park is really nice and also features an asphalt pumptrack and an approx. 1000 m² dirt track. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? Looking forward to the first bowl to bank transfer! Visit Meerbusch skatepark Find out more about Betonlandschaften
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September 20, 2022 New Yamato concrete in Sankt Leon-Rot, Germany.We reached out to Jan Kliewer of Yamato Living Ramps to find out more. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. The skatepark in Sankt Leon-Rot is a 380 square meter concrete half circular shaped park located in a small town in the south of Germany. The small skatepark's shape is inspired by the shape from the adjacent newly built Jugendpark and JUZ "Jam". Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? Leon-Rot skatepark features a ton of cool basic obstacles on a small footprint and should be good for some interesting flowy, quick feet-lines. The idea here was – as with most of our park designs – to keep it easy for beginners to enjoy yet, at the same time challenging for more expert skaters, with new stuff to discover every time you skate. Visit Sankt Leon-Rot skatepark Find out more about Yamato Living Ramps
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September 22, 2022 2er DIY Skatepark, one of Europe's largest DIY's, has been revamped and has got some rad new obstacles to hit. We reached out to Yamato Living Ramps to find out more. 2er DIY Skatepark is one main part our company’s foundation. Yamato Living Ramps evolved from 2er skatepark and Betonhausen DIY in Berlin. 2er started with some really simple ramps more than 15 years ago and is now one of Europe’s largest DIY’s. Today it’s run by an official non-profit club, 2er skateboarding e.V. The park has been legal for several years, with differing contracts. Recently, the land got sold to the city of Hannover who then offered the e.V. a 50 year lease. This of course was a big push for more building to be done on the park. We’ve established the Builders Jam format in the past to tackle quick development several times now. Friends and concrete lovers gather from near and far, material, places to crash, food and a ton of drinks are provided, and with a common goal to chase, volunteers are then set free to shape the park. This particular time, Yamato orchestrated a bit more, we tore down a section of the park prior to people arriving, and a rough idea was drafted within the members of the e.V. A big push this time came with the Belgian crew that showed up. It was nice to see the evolution of skills and size of pieces that got tackled. In the end, 2er now features a radical steep bank / built-in loop section, a steep vert QP, a sick granite lip pocket and a dip / step-up push-bump thingy for a ton of new options in the park. Personally, I was sceptical about the work load / fun-skatability ratio of the loop thing, but I got proven wrong. Seeing people pump the doorway and the loop in one flow is pretty rad. I can’t wait for the next section to get build, which – so they say - should then be a more streety bit. Time will tell. Visit 2er DIY skatepark Webiste Yamato Living Ramps
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September 30, 2022 When we saw this gem pop-up, we had to find out more, so we reached out to Jack Anderson to ask a couple of questions. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. "The Deck", aka Eastmark skatepark, is located in a 4.1 acre park in Mesa, Arizona. The Deck is a mix of everything (street, vert, plaza, pump tracks, etc). Every feature in the park is skateable, even the benches, walls, handrails, and stairs. It has beginner and advanced pump tracks, ramps, quarter pipes, along with shade structures, seating areas, and open green spaces. The Deck can be thought of as more than a skatepark but a community focal point, gathering spot, and social hub. The park is open daily to public sunrise - 10pm. Companies involved in the construction: Anderson, SpohnRanch, Gothic Landscape, Sunrise Engineering, Brookfield Residential, DMB Development Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? We really like the way the main entryway signage came out and the different styles of pump tracks. Any dream trick or link you'd like to see go down in any of the park's features or areas? We really liked this line of Austin Salzman, a local pro skater and we would really like to see someone transfer over the volcano. Visit The Deck Skatepark Webiste Anderson
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October 26, 2022 New Yamato concrete in Cologne-Mülheim, Germany.We reached out to Jan Kliewer of Yamato Living Ramps to find out more about this little gem. Introduce us to the park - tell us its name, where it is, what kind of park will it be (more street-oriented, just a bowl, a plaza...), its approximate dimensions, if it's already open to the public, who involved in the construction and design, that sort of stuff. Keupstraße skatepark is a playful, flowy street skatepark in Cologne’s Mülheim district. We tried to come up with an innovative design, low obstacle heights and thought-out placing to guarantee fun and constant challenges for all skill levels. The skatepark is packed with basic features that complement and add-on to each other. All packed into around 450m2 of skateable concrete. Is there any feature that you're particularly happy with, that came out really nice or is really fun to skate? Renovation of a very dreary predecessor, aspiring to fulfill the needs of the neighboring playground, as well as to cater to the more experienced, while reasonably adding to the city's skatepark portfolio. Visit Keupstrasse skatepark Find out more about Yamato Living Ramps
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The Skatepark map of the UK is complete. Finding skateparks in the United Kingdom has never been easier. Piece by piece like a massive puzzle, here it is: the skatepark map of the United Kingdom is finally complete. From the ‘old school’ iconic parks, to brand new spots and crappy skateparks, we found them all. But please don't shoot the messenger if you do find one more, because I am sure there must be more hidden away somewhere. There's always one more. We have found a total of 1786 public skateparks, including asphalt and concrete pumptracks. Most parks are street focused, just like most countries around the globe, but it's never been a better time for transition skaters too. Did you know there are 267 skateparks with bowls in the UK? From North to South, skateboarders can find detailed information about each spot and together with GPS location and local businesses nearby. A map of stoke to compare parks with other spots and to decide where to go to next. With 1786 parks the UK scores third place in the countries with the most parks in the world, but numbers change a bit if you put things into a different perspective. If you look at skateparks per capita the United Kingdom only comes on 14th place, with one park for every 38504 people. Liechtenstein comes on first place of that list with one park for every 5383 people. Food for thought. 5 bucket list skateparks in the UK Southbank Undercroft had to be on the list, of course. Southbank has been around since the 70s and has many stories to tell. Like someone said “It wasn’t made for skating. If it was, it would be something completely different". That is why it's such a unique spot. Folkestone 51 is a 17 million pound indoor skatepark in Kent featuring the world’s first suspended concrete bowls and three stacked floors dedicated to all types of skateboarding and BMXing. Prefer street or transition, concrete or wood? Don't worry F51 has you covered and has something for all levels of riding ability. Dean Lane skatepark, aka the "deaner", has been around since 1978 and was one of the first parks in the UK. Dean Lane skatepark is a concrete self funded DIY park located next to the Bristol South swimming pool and features a transition and street section. The Deaner is famous for its severe transitions, making it hard to skate. If you like transition then Haverfordwest skatepark is what your looking for. The skatepark was built by Maverick skateparks in 2014 and features several bowls and a transiton area with nicely blended in street elements. Distinctive is that one in the Shetland Islands, too. This park proves that distance or geography aren't a problem when the community raises their voice and gets together. The Lerwick Skatepark is the northernmost skatepark in the United Kingdom and its smooth concrete and design definitely make the park a bucket list spot. Skateparks and Special features in the United Kingdom Racio total population/skateparks: 38504/park Total skateparks: 1786 Total asphalt/concrete pumptracks: 111 Total skate bowls: 267 Miniramps: 901 Halfpipes: 12 Fullpipes: 2 Skatepark Builders in the United Kingdom Click on profile builder - select "See all parks" to see the map of each builder. Maverick skateparks Four One Four Skateparks Canvas Skateparks Wheelscape Skateparks Influential Skateboarders in the UK Ben Raemers Geoff Rowley Tom Penny Matt Pritchard Sky Brown See all the skateparks in the United Kingdom
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A selection of spots in three European islands, starting in the Indian Ocean, going to the Mediterranean Sea and ending in the Atlantic Ocean. Three great spots, three good reasons to pack your things, to grab your board and go. Welcome to Réunion, Ibiza and São Miguel (Azores), where skateboarding plays an important role in a large scope of experiences. Traveling and skateboarding. A dream for many of you, right? Embracing nature, meeting new people, new cultures and (yeah, that is required!) new spots to ride. Here are three spots we have selected for you, island lovers: Saint Denis, Figueretas and Ponta Delgada. On this lovely French island, called Réunion, 950 km east of the island of Madagascar, you'll find a 2630 m² skatepark built and designed by Constructo Skateparks in 2014 who teamed up with Signes Paysages for the mandatory landscaping. It features a kind of full package: you have street, you have flow, you have park, you have a bowl… after or before a nice swim in the Indian Ocean. For those who are searching for fun, sun and skate, Ibiza is the place. It’s where you find Figueretas skatepark, also known as Ibiza skateplaza. It’s a concrete skatepark located next to Camps de futbol des Viver (they speak Catalonian, too). The park was designed by Spanish architect Daniel Yabar, known for his creative work. This skateplaza has become a new meeting point for skaters, bikers and rollers from around the world, making this Mediterranean island a must-go destination. But if you prefer more tranquillity, green landscapes, epic surf, Atlantic weather and nice food cooked inside a volcano, Azores has all that. And it's got some fresh asphalt waves, too - we’re talking about the Ponta Delgada pumptrack, a bike and skateboard track built by Velosolutions in the capital of São Miguel, the biggest island of this Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, composed of nine precious pieces of land. Let the good times roll.
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What started to be a most wanted but affordable seafront concrete skatepark in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales, became a legal battle between the skateboarding community and some minor (but financial empowered) group of objectors, including Bonie Tylers’ husband, who did not want to have a skatepark close do their mansions. Five years later, though, the dream came true. Skateboarding won. Mumbles skatepark in Swansea, Wales, was projected in 2018 with a 199.000-pound budget ($240.000/€224.000), but due to legal costs the final investment went up to double. Throughout this process a large and loudly community stepped up, putting in place many initiatives. But what called the attention of the mass media was the moment when a multimillionaire harassed some kids: the video went viral and helped the cause. We talked to Jason Williams, chairman of Mumbles Skatepark Association, who explained what went wrong, what people did to stand out and how hard was to go against those who have the money to stop, or at least postpone, a dream of so many. «The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project», he says. Built by Maverick Skateparks, it was opened last Friday, the 17th of February 2023. What was the trigger that made you stepping forward against those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark? It was all about getting a concrete park. Swansea’s got a rich surf and skate history, and a concrete park was long overdue. We get that not everyone wants a skatepark or feels an area need a skatepark, but there was a massive support for the park, and we had to co-ordinate to ensure the very vocal minority didn’t overshadow what a skatepark brings to a community. Tell us about the process of making your association. Tomsk, Will and Jono were all involved from the beginning, advising the local council, but once initial planning permission for the project was granted, it was clear a more formal group/association was needed. Ironically, I didn’t attend the first meeting, but got voted in as chair and told afterwards! What kind of initiatives did you put in place? We held some meeting etc, but really relied on social media to engage with the communities (skate, bmx etc). We also worked closely with the local council driving the project and lobbied the larger County Council as well. “There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project skyrocketed and it all went pretty viral.” Then, it came local opposition… Yes, it got complicated when some local opposition with significant financial backing issued a judicial review in an attempt to stop the project, which really seemed to galvanise those in favour. There was also an incident where the individuals had threatened some kids using the mini ramp on site, which was filmed and went viral. Following that, the amount of support for the project sky rocketed and it all went pretty viral. Hitting local, national and international press and web sites. The whole thing became a political hot potato and I’m glad to say we managed to use all this to the advantage of the project. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How did non skater people react to your advocacy? Where they just ignoring or did they join the ‘battle’? Was this more than just a skatepark? Overall, pretty good. Throughout, we’ve focussed on the positives a skatepark brings and the importance of an open, visible, accessible site. Covid and lockdown really shone a light on the need for free, accessible facilities and the whole start of this came from school kids saying they wanted a skate park, so the parents were all in favour. With the issues mentioned above, that support just went off the scale (our online petition went from 4500 signatures to 24000 signatures in a week!). Could you name special episodes that took place that you will remember for ever? So many moments: the ‘incident’ and being contacted by local and national press, including TV interviews with the BBC. Our story appearing in pretty much all the UK press. Being asked to participate in a debate on live national radio (cancelled at the last minute as no-one was prepared to participate from the group that issued the judicial review). A local brewery creating a delicious beer and soda called Damn the Man, to help fundraise. Finally getting everything signed off, the building of the park started. What kind of support did you have across this prolonged period? Legal, mostly? None, really. We did have some well-wishers giving us informal advice, but we pretty much worked it out ourselves. The core of the Association are older, so experience from work, friends etc helped. When it came to the formal legal issues, the Council led and we fed in as much as we could, to ensure the right messaging was coming across. We did have to get involved in formal council stuff, but again, we just worked it out. “Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review” How those people who wanted to stop building the skatepark changed their behaviour as your voice got bigger? Is it true that singer Bonnie Tyler was one of those at the frontline? Bonnie Tyler’s husband was one of the group who signed the judicial review. They were all in the background really and thought they could throw money and big-time lawyers at it and get it shut down. We were lucky that the local councils really saw what the skatepark could provide and bought into the project. That meant they worked through the legal challenge, rather than rolling over. It helped that there was so much press about ‘the incident’ and a huge amount of focus and support on the project. Because of this legal battle the skatepark will cost much more. How and who do you think should pay the difference? Yeah, that sucks. Not just legal costs but build costs increased, all because a bunch of millionaires tried to stop it. Luckily, we did get support from lottery funding and the Mumbles Community Council made up the difference. “I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together!” This episode had impact at the media, like you said. Do you think your cause could be an example for other organizations around the world? Absolutely, I’d recommend every project gets a panto villain to bring the community together! In all seriousness, I don’t know if we did the best job, or if we were just lucky. Also, each project has a different context and different challenges. In a nutshell, we tried to remain positive, repeat key messages about community (not just skate, bmx community) and the wider benefits of skateparks, tie in politicians and councillors wherever possible, and just kept pushing. If you had to ‘baptize’ this skatepark on a consequence of this social movement, what would be its name? Loads of people have come up with ideas already, mainly as a big FU to those who were against it. Me, I don’t really care, I’m just over the moon it’s there. Let’s call it ‘one’, as we’re already talking to the local council about a possible 2 or 3 more parks. Visit Mumbles skatepark Find out more about Maverick skateparks
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Next spot on our mission to skate every skatepark in Portugal is Venda do Pinheiro skatepark, a gem built by Wasteland skateparks. Last weekend we were back on the road with the crew, this time with Keanu Schwedt, Patrick Costa and Margarida Cepeda. Menu of the weekend: Venda do Pinheiro, Lourinhã and Alcobaça skatepark. This roadtrip was made possible by Ripar skateshop, Wasteland skateparks and Dropin surf camp who were brave enough to have us over for the weekend. The first park we hit was Venda do Pinheiro skatepark, located in Parque Ecológico Venda do Pinheiro park. The skatepark features a flowbowl built by the Portugese legends, Wasteland skateparks back in 2018. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for transition, flow and good vibes. Video production: Rodrigo Simaõ (Edit and filming) and Haroun Cherif (DJImini) Visit Venda do Pinheiro skatepark
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Next stop on our mission to visit all the skateparks in the world is the new Mafra skatepark in Portugal Now that we've almost mapped out all the skateparks in the world, it's time for our next mission: visit them all. Special thanks to Bana skateshop for sponsoring our first spot, to Patrick Costa for the show and to Rodrigo Simão for filming and the video edit. We started our trip to Mafra with a couple of street spots and then went to check out the new skatepark in Parque Desportivo Municipal de Mafra. The new 1.648,91 m2 Mafra skatepark is a wooden park, built by Academia dos Patins in 2023. Mafra skatepark is made up of 3 different sections, featuring a bowl, jump area and street section. Visit Mafra skatepark
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Skate a UNESCO World Heritage Site Alcobaça is worth a visit for so many reasons. To start you have the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the imposing Alcobaça monastery, one of the most impressive and beautiful testimonies of the Cistercian architecture in Europe and features a fun street spot that we were able to skate with no problems. The skatepark in Alcobça is a gem. The park was built by Wasteland Skateparks who are known all around the Iberian Penisula for building premium quality parks. The crème de la crème. The bowl is tight, changeling and perfect. After that we went to a street spot near the park. I don't know who built this spot, but it seems like it was actually built by somebody that skates. It's that good. Last weekend we were back on the road with the crew, this time with Keanu Schwedt, Patrick Costa and Margarida Cepeda. Menu of the weekend: Venda do Pinheiro, Lourinhã and Alcobaça skatepark. This roadtrip was made possible by Wasteland skateparks and Dropin surf camp who were brave enough to have us over for the weekend.
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Our mission to skate every skatepark continues. This time we went to São Pedro da Cadeira in Portugal, a parish in the municipality of Torres Vedras, about 55 km from Lisbon. This bowl with pool coping stands out because it's also one of the cleanest parks in Portugal. All that thanks to the local community. Find out why. Skating with the Atlantic wind behind you. The West Portugal coast has something mystique and spreads it out all over its territory. Going to São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark is all about breathing pure air whilst flowing on some super mellow concrete. Built in 2020 by Wasteland Skateparks during the pandemic, this concrete park features a quarterpipe, a ledge, a delta, and a bowl with pool coping and tiles (assuring the unique crack sound. Grrrrrrr!). It is probably one of the cleanest parks in Portugal too thanks to the local community who nurtures and fosters the spot with love, like polishing the stone coping before our arrival! “It’s really a clean place because the park where the skatepark is located is very well cared for”, says João Sales, from Wasteland Skateparks, praising the local parish council members: “One of them is a skater and he is constantly taking care of the joints and putting the varnish on the coping.” The local love for skateboarding has another chapter that must be told: “This is a small skatepark, for the local neighbourhood, but it was even smaller in the initial design. The chairman of the parish council asked us to enlarge it, we said it was impossible for the available budget, but he helped out by paying the concrete. Thanks to this we were able to extend the skatepark, by building more obstacles with no extra costs.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); São Pedro da Cadeira is a parish with a population of 5217 inhabitants belonging to the municipality of Torres Vedras, about 55 km from Lisbon. To respond to the skate fever the city council has invested in this facility inside of the Parque Verde Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, witch contrasts with the agriculture field and vineyards in the region. The bowl is definitely worth a visit, João Sales says why: “It’s not too deep because the skate scene in Portugal in 2020 was like 95 per cent street and 5 per cent transition. In this bowl the beginners lose their fear and have this pool coping with tiles that looks like we are dropping in on an empty backyard pool in someone’s house.” Extra tip: when you leave the park take a few minutes to enjoy the view from the Assenta Beach cliffs while eating the regional cake with a shape of a horseshoe. It will lift your spirit for riding the next day. Visit São Pedro da Cadeira skatepark Find out more about Wasteland skateparks
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How would you like to be featured on Thrasher? Well, there's not much we can do about that. But we know there's one thing skaters do besides skating, and that's daydreaming. So go grab that photo of you skating that you've dreamed a thousand times that made the cover of the unholy bible, send it our way and maybe you'll win some stuff, including a one-off Samuel Lucas personalized deck. Check the instructions below. PRIZE The winner of the challenge gets Personalized deck (designed by Samuel Lucas) Trucks (Filmtrucks) Wheels Bearings Screws Bushings Some extra prized RULES Post your best ever skate photo onto your instagram page with the hashtag #hellothrasher You have to be in the photo Tag post with @trucksandfins Only people with PUBLIC (open) instagram accounts can participate Only ONE post/participant is permitted Follow: Samuel Lucas Rewind Trucks and Fins Last entree date: 2 June 2021 The Winner will be announced on Friday 4 June 2021 after the jury reaches their decision. The jury consists of 4 Trucks and Fins photographers: Pascal Lieleg (Germany), Alexandre Balas (Portugal), Johan Van Esbroeck (Belgium) and Glen Jones (USA).
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Want to test your skatepark knowledge and win some prizes along the way? Then this is for you! Time for our next game (challenge) on Trucks and Fins! The Rules On our instagram STORY we are going to show a drawing of a skatepark on our map. instagram STORY Search for the skatepark on our site and answer in the question box on our STORY! Only one answer permited on each story! Follow the sponsors of the event: Samuel Lucas Rewind Trucks and Fins Every Thursday at 6pm (GMT) we will post a new game on our Story. The Prizes - 2 Games in one The first 5 people who answer correctly win a prize. For every correct answer we will add your name on a paper in our magic box. In the end we will organize a kind of lottery and give away more prizes! So in case you weren't fast enough, no worries...we still have more to give away in the end of the 4 challenges!! Let the fun and games begin!
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It seems like we are going all to be home for a while so Bana and Trucks and Fins partnered up to organize a virtual lockdown challenge. Basically we will have a challenge every week until the lockdown is over. Every week we will give away one deck and other prizes until we can all skate the streets again! Every Monday we will launch a new challenge. You have until the following Saturday to post your videos on Instagram. Every Sunday our jury will evaluate the videos and we have two important criteria: originality and difficulty! It's simple! Every Monday one challenge will be announced. You have until the following Saturday to upload your videos. Follow @bana and @trucksandfins on Instagram. Film the trick at home. Post it onto your Instagram page. Tag with the hashtag of the challenge. The winner will be announced every Monday when we present the new challenge of the week. The rules: Only tricks filmed at home, in the garage or in the garden are permitted. Be as creative as you can. So, let's start with the first challenge: the ollie! Hashtag of the challenge: #homeolliechallenge
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After our first lockdown challenge, the Ollie, it's time for challenge number two: The hippie jump! How does it work? Every Monday we will launch a new challenge and announce the winners of the challenge before. You have until the following Saturday to post your videos on Instagram. Every Sunday our jury will evaluate the videos and we have two important criteria: originality and difficulty! It's simple! You have until Saturday (18/4) to upload your videos. Follow @bana, @trucksandfins, @rewind on Instagram. Only tricks filmed at home, in the garage or in the garden are permitted. Post it onto your Instagram page/feed to win prizes. (Stories don't count). Tag with the hashtag of the challenge: #homehippejumpchallenge The winners will be announced every Monday afternoon. Be as creative as you can! So, time for challenge nrº 2: The Hippie Jump. Bring it on! Hashtag of the challenge: #homehippiejumpchallenge
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So, time for challenge nrº 3: Your Best and most creative Flip ever. Bring it on! How does it work? Every Monday we will launch a new challenge and announce the winners of the challenge before. You have until the following Sunday to post your video on Instagram. Every Sunday our jury (all the sponsors and two weekly guest juris) will evaluate the videos and we have two important criteria: originality and difficulty! It's simple! You have until Sunday (26/4) to upload your videos. Follow @bana, @trucksandfins, @rewind and @boavida on Instagram. Only tricks filmed at home, in the garage or in the garden are permitted. Post it onto your Instagram page/feed to win prizes. (Stories don't count). You must have an open Instagram account to be elligible to win prizes. Tag with the hashtag of the challenge: #homebestflipchallenge The winners will be announced on Monday afternoon 27/4. Be as creative as you can! Prizes this week: first prize: a pair of Lakai shoes, second prize: a skate deck. Hashtag of the challenge: #homebestflipchallenge Good luck! Visit TRUCKS AND FINS Instagram
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Week 4 of our our 5 week skate challenge. You will have 10 days to make your clip with the challenge of the week. A jury will decide on the winner with the following criteria: 50% difficulty, 50% creativity. The first 3 places will win a prize and we will also offer a prize for the most creative and one for the most difficult video. The Final Participants who participate in all 5 challenges will be invited to the final. And the finalist will win a weekend to Bukubaki, a skate deck, other great prizes and will get filmed by FuelTv! So make sure you participate in all 5 challenges! Fourth challenge! Show some love and follow @trucksandfins and the shop of the week @bana on Instagram.(@collective, @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv) Film the trick of the week: Trick on coping (can be variations) Post it onto your instagram page with the hashtag #xmascopingtrick Only people with PUBLIC (open) instagram accounts can participate Video has to be less than one minute You can post your video until 03/01/2021 The winner of the first challenge will be announced on: 06/01/2020 Prizes this week First place: Skate deck Second place: bearings Third place: t-shirt Prize for the most creative video: Santa Cruz t-shirt Prize for the most difficult shuv-it: Etnies shoes Instagram links @trucksandfins @bana @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv
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It's going to snow prizes the next couple of weeks! So get out those skateboards and get ready for some fun! 5 Week Challenge Every Friday for the next five weeks we will launch a new skate challenge. You will always have 10 days to make your clip with the challenge of the week. A jury will decide on the winner with the following criteria: 50% difficulty, 50% creativity. The first 3 places will win a prize and we will also offer a prize for the most creative and one for the most difficult video. So yep: 5 weekly prizes! The Final Participants who participate in all 5 challenges will be invited to the final. And the finalist will win a weekend to Bukubaki, a skate deck, other great prizes and something special that we will keep secret until we reach the final. So stay tuned and make sure you participate in all 5 challenges! First challenge! Show some love and follow: @trucksandfins, @bana, @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv on Instagram. Film the trick of the week: Shuv-it (can be variations), and remember... we only want to see shuv-its! Post it onto your instagram page with the hashtag #xmasshuvit Only people with PUBLIC (open) instagram accounts can participate Video has to be less than one minute You can post your video of the shuvit until 13/12/2020 The winner of the first challenge will be announced on: 16/12/2020 Prizes this week First place: Skate deck Second place: Outcast t-shirt Third place: Bearings Prize for the most creative video: Santa Cruz sweater Prize for the most difficult shuv-it: Etnies shoes Instagram links @trucksandfins @bana @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv
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It's going to snow prizes the next couple of weeks! So get out those skateboards and get ready for some fun! Manual mode on! 5 Week Challenge Every Friday for the next five weeks we will launch a new skate challenge. You will always have 10 days to make your clip with the challenge of the week. A jury will decide on the winner with the following criteria: 50% difficulty, 50% creativity. The first 3 places will win a prize and we will also offer a prize for the most creative and one for the most difficult video. So yep: 5 weekly prizes! The Final Participants who participate in all 5 challenges will be invited to the final. And the finalist will win a weekend to Bukubaki, a skate deck, other great prizes and something special that we will keep secret until we reach the final. So stay tuned and make sure you participate in all 5 challenges! Second challenge! Show some love and follow: @trucksandfins, @bana, @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv on Instagram. Film the trick of the week: Manual (can be variations), and remember... we only want to see manuals! Post it onto your instagram page with the hashtag #xmasmanuals Only people with PUBLIC (open) instagram accounts can participate Video has to be less than one minute You can post your video of the shuvit until 20/12/2020 The winner of the first challenge will be announced on: 23/12/2020 Prizes this week First place: Skate deck Second place: wheels Third place: bumbag Prize for the most creative video: Santa Cruz sweater Prize for the most difficult shuv-it: Etnies shoes Instagram links @trucksandfins @bana @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv
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It's going to snow prizes the next couple of weeks. Power slide mode on! 5 Week Challenge Every Friday for the next five weeks we will launch a new skate challenge. You will always have 10 days to make your clip with the challenge of the week. A jury will decide on the winner with the following criteria: 50% difficulty, 50% creativity. The first 3 places will win a prize and we will also offer a prize for the most creative and one for the most difficult video. So yep: 5 weekly prizes and who we knows we throw in some more! The Final Participants who participate in all 5 challenges will be invited to the final. And the finalist will win a weekend to Bukubaki, a skate deck, other great prizes and something special that we will keep secret until we reach the final. So stay tuned and make sure you participate in all 5 challenges! Second challenge! Show some love and follow @trucksandfins and the shop of the week @collective on Instagram.(@bana, @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv) Film the trick of the week: Power slides (can be variations), and remember... we only want to see power slides! Post it onto your instagram page with the hashtag #xmaspowerslide Only people with PUBLIC (open) instagram accounts can participate Video has to be less than one minute You can post your video until 27/12/2020 The winner of the first challenge will be announced on: 30/12/2020 Prizes this week First place: Skate deck Second place: t-shirt Third place: hat Prize for the most creative video: Santa Cruz sweater Prize for the most difficult shuv-it: Etnies shoes Instagram links @trucksandfins @bana @rewindskateboarding @outcastbshop @collective @centralskatestore @ripar @bukubaki @fueltv
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July 29 2022. Time to play a game, but this one is for newsletter subscribers only. So, sign up today! The rules are simple. We have photoshopped a dinosaur on to two different images of a skatepark. The photos are in the photos section of two different skateparks on our map. Sign-Up to our newsletter (on the bottom of this page or homepage) Visit our skate map and hunt for the dinosaurs. If you find a dinosaur, write in the "Rating and Reviews" section of the respective park "Bana Rules". That's the secret code. The hunt starts on July 29 2022. First person to find each dinosaur wins a 50€ Voucher in Bana store Portugal. Don't forget, you have two dinosaurs on the map, 100€ prize pack, and you have to be subscribed to our newsletter to claim your prize. The person who Rates/Reviews the most parks on our site will receive a special surprise pack. The winners will be announced in our next monthly newsletter that we will send out on the Last Friday of August. You have until August 22 to find the 2 dinosaurs. Happy hunting and have fun. Start Hunting Dinosaurs Visit Bana Store
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October 31, 2022, interview with Marcos Hiroshi Subjectiveness, originality and fearless tricks are the secrets to success in Olympic skateboarding. In this third part of the interview with Marcos Hiroshi we get a comprehensive view about how judges value a good trick. Stay foolish is still a good mantra. How have the Olympics changed skateboarding in Brazil? We got the power to advocate. Skateboarding now has the same importance and relevance as many other sports. Now we can talk to politicians and demand a skatepark like other sports demand new facilities. Skateboarding is becoming more popular in Brazil… Yes, even folks who didn't know anything about skateboarding are now more curious. People want to know more about skateboarding and hear stories about their heroes. The bad image of skateboarding belongs to the past. A rider is not an outcast anymore. Skateboarding is now a kid’s sport. It's something that brings all people together. It's more than just winning or taking over the other one to rule. The image of that girl being raised was a landmark in the Olympics. The Japanese skater, Misugu Okamoto, missed the podium after bailing a flip attempt and falling into the concrete bowl. While she was crying, other competitors showed up to hug her and lifted her on their shoulders, becoming one of the most powerful images of that competition. This was the perfect calling card of skateboarding. Now you have that uncle who during a family dinner is talking about the young girls who are rocking in skateboarding, like Rayssa Leal. That's a good thing, because people are interested in skateboarding and it unites people. It is about empowerment. Thanks to this, riders are receiving scholarships. They do not ride just to get a sponsor; they get money from the state or local government. That money will sustain the skater and that is a huge change! Furthermore, many specialists started to work on the backstage: therapists, physiotherapists, coaches, referees… people who became professionals. I was in Tokyo during the Olympics and people from other sports were saying ‘hey, I like the way things work in skateboarding.’ They got impressed. You have conquered a place… Yes, but we are having some disputes with Worldskate, which is more related to roller skate. Skateboarding wants to take their own decisions and follow its own path. Worldskate has nothing to do with skateboarding. Fortunately, skateboarding is rising in other countries due to the Olympics. I went to China recently and I noticed how powerful skateboarding is. I saw some exceptionally good things in Turkey too. You are a judge member at skateboarding competitions, including the Olympics. How subjective is your analysis? There is a fixed value for a trick. The extra comes from other factors like did he do that it at the limit, the speed, style... For that we give hundredths of a point and that is what makes the difference. Let us say a deep slide is worth 5,10 but the guy who does that perfectly and with style gets 5,86. We value the one who makes the difference. It's not like snowboarding, where there are mandatory maneuvers with a closed and fixed value. Subjectiveness is one of the more important parts of skateboarding. Style and individuality mean a lot, which is the essence of skateboarding. We stand to prevent riders to become robots. How do the judges establish judgment rules? The CBSK created referee courses to explain, in each state, how the evaluation system works. Judges learn how to take notes, what to pay attention to, etc. Do you watch training sessions to? Yes. In the Olympics we must watch all training sessions since day one. Is there a specific training sessions’ number? Yes. If a competition starts on Thursday, then Tuesday and Wednesday are dedicated to practice and official training sessions. That is when we see what the athletes are preparing and what they are going to do in competition. We start to study them on previous days. Based on that we, the judges, start to set an average to a special trick. Give me an example. Let us say we see a guy doing a flipnose blunt. We start to discuss: how much should we grade it? And then we start to make charts to divide it in those items that we talked about before. We go to the park, too, to try it. It is impossible to understand the difficulty level of the obstacles from a higher point of view. By going there, we see the distance between obstacles, how high they are, witch side is more difficult, if there is a crack. Those details will help us to have a full guide and to give a fair rate. You must decide very quickly. Because competitions have TV broadcasting, judges cannot debate rates, we must decide almost immediately. We have 15/20 seconds to do it. That is why we prepare everything in advance. Is there a chance of a rider surprising you during a competition? That is almost impossible. If a rider wants to show a new trick, he must try it before, at training sessions, where we are studying them. I remember one time a guy doing a Caballerial nose flip. He was just trying, but we started to debate ‘how are we going to score this if he does it during the competition’? How many judges were you at the Olympics, in Tokyo? Five judges and a head judge. I was a park judge. Are the Olympics changing the skateboarding categories? Mixing styles in one competition is the future? Yes, the future is to combine all features at one single track. The rider of the future will be the one who has not just a category, he must do everything well. It is by watching championships that you see who has that profile. Andy Anderson is a good example; he is someone from freestyle who rocks in park. Park is still too attached to bowl and vert; the future will be a fusion of all these categories. Instagram Marcos Hiroshi Read interview part 2
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July 20 2022 - Interview with Skatepark Respect. Do you know how much a trash truck weighs? Well, it’s almost the equivalent of the trash Skatepark Respect ambassadors and volunteers have removed since this project started. The numbers talk for themselves: 26637 pounds of trash (12.082 kg) collected, almost 3000 hours of cleaning, 130 ambassadors around the world, 130 skateparks with regular interventions and hundreds of anonymous people who just want to have a better place to skate, or to be. Steve Zanco often reminds us of the broken window theory. When a sign of vandalism is there and you do nothing, other windows will be broken, and it will escalate. The president of this non-profitable organization explains us how he and his ambassadors are reversing the cycle. This is much more than just pure love for skateboarding. This is all about community. Who are the dirtiest: riders or non-riders? All the above. Skateparks tend do be a place to hangout and for the most parks the riders do take care of the place, but they are some that don’t. "When skaters really care and step up that’s when real change happens" Steve Zanco (president of Skatepark Respect) VISIT WEBSITE Do the riders have to be the gatekeepers of the skatepark? Skaters and all the folks who enjoy the park are de real champions. The city hall puts all the money, get things built and often contract cleaning parks out, but the real day-to-day maintenance should be done by the people who enjoy it. When riders realize this is an amazing gift, they treat them like that. When skaters really care and step up that’s when real change happens. Let’s think of ten random parks. How many are clean in the morning? Zero (he laughs). The cities take care of the landscaping and other recreational areas… those tend to take priority, not the actual skatepark. Have you ever caught somebody dirtying/vandalizing a park and what did you do? It has happened and things can escalate. When it happens we have a conversation with the folks and explain the reasons why it’s important to keep it clean or the reasons to not tag it up. We really explain that these things can be closed, this can be taken away quick. There are times when folks get all grumpy about it, and we try to fight that message. When they realize that their actions are direct reflectors of what happens at the parks and if it stays, they tend to say ‘I’m sorry, my bad’. Who tends to “trash” most? Younger or older? It tends to be younger, twelve/thirteen to mid-twenties. Tell us about a good cleaning operation that you will remember till the end of your days. There was one in Denver. It snowed until an hour before the event. We were really worried. But we had the support of local groups, city hall, the park rangers and we had over fifty volunteers, plus an extra fifteen from the city hall with blowtorches, shovels... We got rid of well over fifty full bags of trash and we also did some landscaping’s and removed graffiti. It was an all hands and deck operation. The place was spotless and we were able to skate that day. Afterwards our ambassadors became the stewards of that park. What’s the criteria to become a Skatepark Respect’s ambassador? There is a bit of a conversation and we ask them questions. We just want them to clean the park. Of course, we can’t control what happens all over the world but finding individuals who want to support the cause is huge. We encourage them to clean up their parks, we don’t ask them to do anything crazy. Do you have goals regarding ambassadors outside the US? We started in the USA but when Covid hit we weren’t able to do clean-ups, travel, do a lot of things, so we looked for other opportunities to continue the movement, but without us necessarily being there all the time. There were a lot of amazing people around the world that were reaching out and saying ‘hey, how can we be part of this?’; ‘how can I do this in my area, do you have any tips?’ We were creating these relationships and creating the ambassador program. Our goals for the ambassador program are to encourage them to share their information, their stats: how many pounds of trash did you pick up; how many hours do you spend; do you have a bunch of volunteers? Who did you talk to? Do you have good stories? The park was about to be closed but we fought for that; Our goals are to spread the message and encourage people to do something little like pick up a piece of trash. If all people were like Japanese, your organization would not be needed, don’t you agree? I’ve been in Japan a lot and it’s incredible. You don’t see any trash cans and there is no trash. I went on the train there and somebody did a graffiti. At the next stop, with no extra time, a group of folks came on, cleaned it, got rid of the graffiti and the train didn’t miss a beep. It’s their culture of respect. They appreciate what they have. Their culture is unique, they see the things they have as a gift and respect others property. That’s a cool mindset. How much trash have you removed and with how many ambassadors? We have 130 ambassadors and we have removed 26637 pounds of trash (12.082 kg), almost 3000 hours of cleaning and 130 skateparks. It’s growing all the time. We’re shipping out kits constantly to our ambassadors with trash pickers, trash bags, scrapers and gloves, we have also a how to clean a skatepark guide. How do you recommend city halls to keep skateparks clean? City Halls really ask these questions. The primary answer is to partner up with the community. If that means we have ambassadors, great! If not, really have a presence there. Show the skaters that the city cares. The locals must have the same conversations and say ‘hey, this is an amazing gift, if you show that you care the city’s going to partner with you and you get more obstacles, constant maintenance, improvements, upgrades and making an easy and symbiotic relationship. Working with the locals is where the real value comes from.’ Do you go to schools to talk about your project? We do. We have a few educational programs that we currently have running. With after school programs we educate kids how to keep things clean and give basic skate education as well: taking care of your board, how to take care of this place. It's about respect as a whole, respecting your things and others. We are working with the concrete industry too, to increase the awareness of the concrete trade. What do you do when you go to a skatepark and find a broken ledge or a ramp that needs to be fixed? Do you fix it yourself? That depends of the support of the city. I try to reach them saying ‘this needs to be fixed, can we help anyway?’ We recently had one that 75 volunteers repaired every crack in the concrete. We had tons of epoxy, we went there with tubes, scrapers, we had all this high school kids helping, it was really good. But it’s all about working with the city because you can’t do it on your own. Sending a text message or a picture to someone, create collaborators. Give us a word to describe a dirty skatepark. ‘Sad’. Because it’s so easy to clean these things. It just takes a little effort. This is also a way to fight several negative stereotypes regarding skateboarding… The stereotype is still there, but it’s better now. The Olympics are helping, Tony Hawk and the Skatepark Project have been a huge advocate for that too, but it still exists. Some folks in the city and in the community still think skateboarders are just doing drugs all the time, tag things up and want to wreck things… But it’s not like that… Being a better person, perseverance, mental toughness, all these things are skateboarding. It’s an accepting community, it doesn’t matter who you are, your believes, religion, just let’s skate. Those things are changing in people’s minds, but it still exists in the older crowds that are not exposed to skateboarding. We try to show the positive side of it, we’re here to help de community. Visit Skatepark Respect
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July 4 2022 By Manu Silva Transgender Ricci Tres became a trending topic and has put the skateboarding world on fire. This 29-year-old biological male won Boardr Open in New York, in June, beating 13 year-old Shiloh Catori. The Boardr Open is a street skateboarding contest that is open to all participants at all skill levels. Four of the six finalists were girls between ages from 10 to 17. This created big controversy and discussion. On one side you have important themes like gender diversity and freedom of choice and on the other side there is a possible advantage when a male is competing in a female sports competition. For this former navy veteran, skateboarding is not like other more athletic sports and that’s why the boundaries could be extended. “You have an external source, it’s not only based on your body, as sprinting. It’s like a race car driving, it doesn’t matter who’s driving, you can drive a car better than I do, regardless the physique”, Ricci Tres told to Daily Mail. “I wasn’t going to go easy on them just because they are kids. I’m not buff or anything. I don’t work out really, I just skateboard. And I don’t think skateboarding has anything to do with physicality, especially when you look at kids these days”, she added. This is not what many female skateboarders think. Taylor Silverman told to Fox News most female skateboarders are angry over Tres’s participation in the event but they are afraid of protesting for fear of a counterblast. “There’s a male in the women’s division and that’s what’s unfair here. It happened to me on three separate occasions, two of which I placed second”, she described. In 2021, Ricci Tres attempted to try out for the US women’s Olympic skateboarding qualifiers but had too much testosterone in her body. After undergoing additional hormone treatments, she is now within International Olympic Committee standards to compete in the women’s division. This is an ongoing story.
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The German team has been in the game for over 15 years, building skateparks in different countries across Europe. We’re proud to have them and got X-move’s team member Jan Klühspies to answer three little questions. Tell us a quick story about your early skate days. Around 1987-89 (I had already been skating for 7 years), our local swimming center was emptied (not a pool-like thing but it had some banks and hips), so we (ca. 15 kids) went in for a session. After a while we got caught in flagrante by the city council. But the two guys were totally drunk and instead of calling the cops they started chit-chatting with us about all sorts of things. So everyone was inconspicuously scratching off the swimming-pool surface (it was a kind of tar, we’d damaged the pool-surface) from the wheels and started escaping one after the other. Maybe in the end they were sitting there alone in the swimming center, talking for days. We all came out unpunished and could go back to the skate-shop to watch Animal Chin again. Which is your favourite skatepark and why? KC Plaza Darmstadt, because it`s my local park and we designed it with some friends. But since my curb-period is over, I always wish it would transform into something like Sibbarp. I personally like mid-height flow-parks with beautiful surroundings the most If you could choose any place in the world to build a skatepark in, where would it be and what would you build? Anything in my garden. A 70-80cm high - 3m wide curved quarter with pool-coping and two runways left/right would perfectly fit in. But the garden isn`t my own so I’m just dreaming. Visit Profile page Visit X-move website
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There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke. However, there aren’t as many who write books about skateboarding, adding to the already noble crafts of painter and photographer the duties of the historian. We asked Mark Lawer, better known as Trawler, to tell us a bit about his process and his book Snakes and Moguls, which has recently been updated and reissued. This is what he had to say Well how did I become a skateboarding book writer you ask me? This is hard to answer but I do believe everybody has got a book in them, about something they are passionate about and have a lot of knowledge about, or something that has been part of their life since they can remember. For me it’s skateboarding. Nobody else was going to write this book and our British history needed telling for everybody to remember, look back on and show their families. Show your kids and say this is how we used to do it. The skateparks were not as good as the modern ones but the fun factor and friendships we forged were the golden part of the seventies. More About Mark Lawer "Trawler" visit I am not a real writer, I am a painter and decorator but I did write for a UK skateboard magazine called Skateboard! for 3 or 4 years from 1988 to 1991. I have also written for Sidewalk Surfer mag and various biker magazines about my chopper motorcycles. In 2016 I started this book and finished it in 6 months. A lot of old friends got in contact via social media and helped and wrote memories of their local park. They gave me old photos to scan and trusted me to receive them in the post and send them back. A lot of these photos were the ones their dads took when they were driving them to the parks and waiting around for hours, so the old Kodak instamatic quality was variable. That was the beauty of it, back then we just skated and had fun, we didn’t self document everything like kids do today. I had some professional input and it was so cool that pro surf photographer Alex Williams, 70’s skateboard pro Ben Liddell, Trevor Hickey from the Home Counties and top professional northern photographer Darren Burdell gave me their amazing photos for free. It wouldn’t ‘ve worked without their generosity. The book is a concise scrapbook of most of the short lived paying skatepark businesses that popped up from 1977 to 1980 and were soon gone again because of a downturn in participation and an upturn in insurance costs that killed the parks off. It covers 35 parks from Watergate and Holywell Bay’s in Cornwall through the country, London, Wales, the Midlands and the North ending with Livingston in Scotland where skatepark builders finally started to get it right in the early 80’s. I also included pictures of all the ability level badges and stickers and original magazine adverts that accompanied the skateparks. It was a joy to do, I met a lot of old friends on the road and did some fun interviews and great reunions with people that I consider my long term friends for life. The skateboarding community is, was and always will be brilliant. I guess the book is a small success. I have had it reprinted in small numbers and self published it all the way through. Currently it is back by popular demand with 16 extra pages and hardback with gold leaf headings! This is my second book of four. I really have got the bug when it comes to documenting skateboarding. Now that I have recently learned how to take skateboard photos there is no way of stopping me. My books are available from www.ukskateboardbooks.bigcartel.com Header picture: Trawler doing a backside tail tap, courtesy of Paul Parsons
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A skateboarder since 1976. Rode for Brand-X and Zorlac in the heyday and was sponsored again in his 40’s. Author of several UK skateboard magazines since 1987 and penned and published 4 skateboard books in the last 6 years. Tell us a quick story about your early skate days. My early days involve the punk years, real original punk in England- 1977. I was an early skateboard street urchin, a teenager of the city in Plymouth. I was out most nights and skateboarding in the precinct and on the flat asphalt tarmac expanse of Plymouth Hoe on a Sunday where we had an early primitive wooden transportable quarter pipe that we would hit for hours. Our favourite wide subway was next to Woods ( an original punk club) I was too young to go in but some nights we were skating around outside and we could hear the music streaming from the open windows. The Sex Pistols were getting themselves banned everywhere but they played Woods. We also heard Billy Idol and Generation X and a year later the sounds of Sting and The Police wafted down from the club. It was a good time growing up but by late 1978 the attention turned to our new skatepark across the city in Central Park. More About Mark Lawer "Trawler" See Profile Show us a picture you shot that you really like and tell us why. This picture is of young George O’Neil and taken in March 2020 at Mount Hawke it is a backside ollie 360 rotation. I really like it because at the time I had just finished a community camera course -night school and while I was there in the winter we took pics of lemons plopping into a fishbowl and silhouettes through glass and boring stuff like that. Although the course helped me to find my way around a camera I was itching to photograph skateboarding. George is a cool kid and was a willing subject, most skateboarders like having their photos taken so I was soon over my shyness of asking. So there I was with my newly acquired Nikon strapped to a 8mm fisheye and a hand held speedlight flash on a coil lead, just figuring it all out. I was stoked with the results and thought…Hell yes I can do this. I was hooked and addicted in the very same moment. I learned a lot in my first few months and spent more time behind the camera than on my board. I never looked back. Which would be your dream photo combination – which skater/trick/spot would you like to capture? If I had a time machine I would like to go back to 1977 and photograph Tony Alva , Jay Adams and their crew in a perfect backyard pool. I love the iconic images of 70’s skateboarding and the history we all should respect. I know this is a pipe dream so I would settle for a good skatepark pool with that perfect aesthetic and riders who work with the photographer together to get the killer shots.
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In our recent interview with João Sales from Wasteland Skateparks, which you can read here, we briefly mentioned architect Daniel Yábar’s work as an example of the perfect blend of skatepark and street spot. Now Trucks and Fins is glad to welcome the man himself and thank him for joining our network of skatepark designers and builders. Yábar’s projects give us the illusion that the whole city could slowly turn into one huge skate spot. If you don’t know what we mean, check them out for yourself on his profile page. Daniel Yábar’s Profile Page
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Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. The skater community in Caldas da Rainha deserves more and together we can make this happen. We have been several times to the skatepark in Caldas da Rainha and I must confess that's it's sad to sea a park that's in need of so much love and attention. Basically the park is in desperate need of maintainence. The skater community in Caldas for some time now have taken initiatives to raise attention to this problem, but until now everything has gone in vain. So by signing the petition below we can help the skater community in Caldas da Rainha raise attention to the problem and we all can have one more great park to go to in the weekends! Their dream is your signature away. ;) SIGN and SHARE the petition here and help the skater community in Caldas da Rainha.
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October 28, 2022, interview with skatepark hunter Patrick Peeters Meet Patrick Peeters, one of our top skatepark hunters, who visited 107 skateparks in less than a year. Patrick Peeters is a Belgian TV camera operator who discovered skateboarding during a "bad moment" in his life. Skateboarding helped him "clear" his mind and chasing skateparks in Europe has been his passion since then. 107 skateparks, in less than 1 year, is one hell of an effort, so we decided to have a chat and find out more. First, tell us something about you. Where are you from, what do you do and how/when did skateboarding turn part of your life. Hello, I'm Patrick, I'm 46, I live in Belgium where I work as a television cameraman. As a teenager I skated, but can't remember doing anything special. I just liked cruising around and jumping over some self-build quarters. Then I stopped skating for 30 years, but have been back on a board for the last year and half. So yep, I'm back skating again and love it. In the beginning actually my sister wanted to start with inline skating, so I went along at the local pumptrack with her and that's how it all started. What drives you to find, discover and help update new skateparks? I love to skate at different parks, just so I can find spots I like. Skating different parks helps me get comfortable on different surfaces, shapes, heights of quarters, and carve in different bowls. I was planning to make a Facebook Page or something similar, to collect my pictures of different parks, to get my own sort of database. And then I discovered Trucks and Fins. I knew this was what I was looking for. I believe there are more people that would love to have information and see quality photos of skateparks, before making the decision to go there or not. And that's why I love to help update the website. Can you tell us how far you go to explore a skatepark? When I drive to a skatepark the first reason is to find a spot to skate. The second reason is to get photos of the park because I am there. I'm lucky to be allowed by my chief to make some detours on my way to work abroad, so I can drive some extra km's to check out parks in France and other places. Along the way I have found some great skateparks. Recently I was on vacation in Tenerife and of course couldn't resist to check out all the local parks and put them on the Trucks and Fins website. You have visisted 107 skateparks, what are your favourite? And what about the worst? I didn't end up skating all the parks. Due to weather or not having a board I didn't skate every single one of the parks. But from the ones I did skate the worst was Grand Marais Skatepark near Amiens in France. It's a concrete bowl with a nice shape, but because it's old, there are pieces of concrete coming off everywhere. I just left after a couple of minutes. It really wasn't possible to skate there. The best? I can't really pick "a" favourite, so here are my top 3: Du Grand Large in Mons, Strombeek Bever near Brussels, and Sint Niklaas skatepark. They all have a nicely shaped bowl and a street section with different obstacles in an interesting setup and quality quarters. Based on your experience, does the average skatepark have the right features for average riders? What could improve? For me there is no ‘standard rider' because of the different disciplines. It's difficult to build a park that's right for all of them. For street you want lots of flat space and obstacles, for transition skating you want a lot of quarters and half pipes in different heights, and for a bowl you want a good closed bowl to carve around. But I guess Blaarmeersen in Gent, Sint Niklaas and Strombeek Bever are all-round good parks. What could improve is getting more in contact with the local skate community when building a park. I have visited a lot of big expensive parks with a bad surface, bad quarters, or the trend now to paint bowls... Skateboarding is a social gathering, too. Do you have a happy story at a skatepark you would like to share? Recently I met a woman who was skating but wanted to skate more and with other people. She was happy to learn about the 'skating for adults’ lesson I was following each week, and she joined our group. When I was on a little holiday in Vienna, Austria, I met some local skaters who invited me to their park, lended me a board, Vans and full protection gear so I could have a go. It was a fantastic moment skating together and being welcomed like that. What is your favourite trick? Not sure if it qualifies as a trick, but I love to carve and I hear nice comments about my carve skills. I know it's definitely not a standard skill. At the De Kuil bowl in Den Haag one skater said that at the time he first tried skating a bowl, he already skated 10 years but couldn't carve, and was impressed with my carving after 1 year skateboarding. Another skater said he held competitions between his friends to see who was able to carve a curve after a curve, but they couldn't do it. And to see me do it like I do after just 1 year was really great. So, I guess it is a trick! Who’s your favourite rider (actual or all time, it’s your call)? To be honest I don't follow any specific rider. I prefer to follow adults on their journey to learn to skate than more experienced skaters. But of course, as a kid and still now I know Tony Hawk and really like his style. Would you like add something I didn’t ask? I want to go more into what skateboarding has done for me. I started to skate when I was in a bad place in life. Skateboarding gave me a thing to focus on. Something to clear my mind, a reason to go outside and do something, to meet other people, and do some good exercise. It has helped me a lot on a mental and physical level, which I could never have imagined when I started. As I have become fairly active on Instagram with my skate account, I had some people who told me they are inspired by my journey, by my progress, and so I think it's given me an extra boost to share it all, the positive and the negative. And I always like to leave a positive remark or an encouraging note. We all have our own journey, our own progress, don't compare yourself to others. Just have fun and enjoy your own skills. Could you give us your opinion about our project, Trucks and Fins? I love it! It is exactly what I was looking for. A map with all the skateparks, with some pictures, so I can plan a skate trip to the parks of my interest. I hope every skater will get to know this map, and to use it for their trips. Patrick Peeters Instagram See Patrick Peeters his skatepark portfolio
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The million dollar question? How many skateparks are there in the world? Three years ago, this whole crazy journey started, because I wanted to make the first map of all the skateparks in Portugal. After completing my first country I decided to map out the rest of the world and basically never stopped uploading parks since then. The following data is not 100% accurate, because I am still uploading hundreds of new parks a week. But one thing if for sure. There are 18545 skateparks in the world on our map and I estimate there are around 23000 public skateparks around the globe. What country has the most skateparks? The United States of America has way more skateparks than any other country in the world and there are 7 countries with over 1000 skateparks. The United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Spain and Brazil are all members of the +1000 club. Below you can find a list of the current top 20 countries with the most parks. What country has the most capita per skateparks? Having the most skateparks is one thing. But who has the most parks per capita? Well, yesterday I put all the numbers in excel to find out. The results are surprising. Liechentstein comes on first place. This small country has 7 parks and a population of 38383, meaning you have a park for every 5483 people. The USA currently is far from reaching the top 20 list with one park for every 95573 people. Brazil is another country that disappears off the list with one park for every 214781 people. These lists and rankings will change over time whilst I continue to upload and find parks, but it does give us an idea of the current situation around the world. Know a skatepark that is missing on the map? You can add the skatepark here and help keep our map up to date! See all the skateparks in the world Add a skatepark to the map
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So what are the favourite parks of famous, professional skaters? We reached out to one of the best skaters in the international circuit to ask for her top 3 skateparks in the world, outside of her native country, Brazil. USA, Norway, and Dubai are the hotpots on the map. 3 bucket list skate travel destinations by Brazilian pro skater Dora Varella. If you are a top Brazilian skater, it means you are one of the best in the world. The ‘Brazilian storm’ is no longer a slogan just for surfers, because boys, girls, men and women born in this great country are dominating the skateboarding scene thanks to a unique soul and an expansional energy. Dora Varella is a Brazilian skater who is currently killing it, with her skating and contagious vibe. At the age of 21, she’s on top10 World Skate ranking. She has recently won the STU Park in Brazil (the Brazilian circuit) in Criciúma, and the qualification to Paris-2024 is one of her main goals. Dora Varella by Júlio Defeton Dora finished 7th in park competition in Tokyo-2020 Olympics. She was this close to reach the podium, but there was another trophy that she and the other finalists won: a fair play award for the empathy toward Japanese Misugo Okamoto, raising her on their shoulders after she failed an important manoeuvre that could get her a medal. She started to cry immediately, but thanks to this natural and spontaneous collective attitude the tears were gone and Misugu started to smile again. This is the kind of image that makes skateboarding different from other sports. And that’s why we find on Dora Varella’s official website this headline - that can summarize the spirit of something that is much more than a sport: “Skateboarding has taught me many lessons: cheering for others doesn’t stop you from winning; treating all people with respect despite the differences transforms your own existence; if you fall, get up, like in everything else in life”. Dora Varella by Eduardo Brás Millions of skaters fall and get up again like her, and many of them are always looking for new spots outside their cities, countries and even continents. Like Dora, too. With eleven years of skateboarding experience and being a professional since 2017, this pro skater from São Paulo was asked by Trucks and Fins to choose her top 3 skateparks in the world, outside Brazil, that could inspire users around the globe. She kindly said yes. So these are ‘Dora Varella’s top 3 skateparks in the world’: XDubai skatepark A 3,200 m2 facility in Dubai, the largest in the United Arabe Emirates. Set on a beachfront location, it’s good for beginners and professionals. Definitely a must-go spot. Visit XDubai skatepark Oslo Skatehaal indoor skatepark A 2,300m2 indoor skatepark with a 840m2 outdoor area in Voldsløkka, Oslo, capital of Norway. Ordered by the local City Hall, it features a full-size vert, the kind of challenge for someone who has already dropped Bob Burnquist’s ramp in California. Visit Oslo skatehaal California Training Facility Located in California, USA. It’s a high-performance centre developed specifically for skateboarding, incubating future world champions. But is has room for amateurs, throughout special programs designed to teach everyone who dares to get their feet on a skateboard. Visit California Training Facility skatepark Dora Varella by Anderson Tuca Take the advice. Valeu, Dora! See all the skateparks in the world Instagram Dora Varella
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“We value experiences more than things, and that is what this lifestyle is all about”. It couldn’t be a better way to present you Shane and Katie, authors of the blog The Lost Longboarder.com, in which outbreaking landscapes meet skateparks in this never-ending journey around the United States of America. And it is where you can buy Shane’s handmade design longboards - one of them was accepted by the Morro Bay Skateboard Museum in California. Let’s find out more about this story that combines art, riding on longboards and a total sense of freedom. Tell us a little bit about you: where are you from and when did you start to skate? I am a happy guy, always looking for adventure and fun. I am originally from Ohio (USA). I used to play football and run track, but I never picked up skateboarding as a kid. The first time I jumped on a longboard was in college. I had met some people longboarding in my dormitory and they asked if I wanted to try. I was unsure of the idea at first because I'd never skated before. I jumped on a flexy bamboo longboard and rode 3 or 4 blocks on super smooth asphalt without having to kick at all. That's all it took... I was hooked! What made you choose to skate longboards? I have always been drawn to the chill cruising aspect of longboarding far distances. With the right longboard I feel like I'm surfing the cement. I like a bamboo/fiberglass longboard, because of the flexible material that really adds to the experience while carving and pumping. It wasn't until my wife and I started living on the road full time in 2017 that I began taking my longboard into the skateparks. As we travel, we see so many great skateparks. Before my experiences, I didn't think skateparks could be as big as they are or have such a good flow on a longboard. Many big vert skateparks with smooth transitions are great for longboarding and make for some perfect cement surfing! We create hand crafted longboards and sell them on our travels Your drawings are unique. How important is travelling to inspire you? Yes, my artwork is unique - thank you for noticing! Traveling full time is a great inspiration to my artwork. The places that we go and the landscapes that we see are inspirational, but our lifestyle and freedom is what encourages me to keep creating whatever pops into my head or whatever my hands want to paint. Can you tell us more about your artwork? Lost Coast Longboarding is our work and the brand we created. We create hand crafted longboards and sell them on our travels. We started our company by screen printing our own t-shirts and eventually started creating our longboards. The other side of our business is our blog TheLostLongboarder.com, this is a documentation of our travels, adventures, and the skate spots we find. We have also been spending a lot of time and effort creating a YouTube channel @LostCoastLongboarding as well as the other social platforms. Can you choose and show your favourite board drawn by yourself? And why is it your favourite? Can I choose a favourite of my longboards?! Oh man, that’s a hard question.. Painting is when I am at peace, so they all mean a lot to me. But I definitely like some more than others lol. One of my favourite design is our swirl boards. These mean a lot to me because I really enjoy painting them, and it comes very natural for me to paint in this style. These boards also mean a lot to me because one of my swirl boards (pictured) was actually accepted to the Morro Bay Skateboard Museum in California. Having my artwork and one of our longboards in a museum seems unreal and helps me remember that we are creating something great with Lost Coast Longboarding. When did you start to make those road trips? And how far did you go? We started our road trip in 2017, and how far did we go? Well, we haven't stopped yet. Hard question: from those road trips you have made so far, which is your number one? Well, actually it's all been the same road trip, so there is only one to choose from! We have been on the road full time since 2017. We have travelled thousands of miles and been through deserts, mountains, forests, snow, volcanos, jungles, big cities, small towns, and every skatepark we can find along the way! We have gotten to experience a lot and we've seen a lot of beauty. We've also been documenting our travels on our blog The Lost Longboarder.com We have been through deserts, mountains, forests, snow, volcanos, jungles, big cities, small towns, and every skatepark we can find along the way! How relevant is an existence of a skatepark to make you go to place X instead of place Y? Skateparks are very important to our travels, but not the #1 requirement. I love skating new parks, and when we travel to an area that has some good skateparks we make sure to check out as many as we can. But our travels are not limited by skateparks. We enjoy experiencing somewhere new, hiking, mountain climbing, and many other outdoor activities. And I can paint anywhere whether there is a skatepark nearby or not. Plus, you don't need a skatepark with a longboard. It's easy to find a good hill or some smooth streets in most places. Can you point out the most surprising skate spot you have found so far? Most surprising skate spot so far? I have been surprised with how many AMAZING skateparks there are all over the country. But if I had to pick one... I would say that the Volcom Skatepark in Mammoth Lakes, California surprised me the most. That's because this was one of the first big skateparks that realized I could skate with a longboard. The Mammoth Lakes Skatepark is a huge skatepark with tons of organic curves, smooth transitions, and an amazing flow. Plus, the skatepark is set in the beautiful Sierra Mountains surrounded by the forest. Your kind of experience is an inspiration for many people. What kind of advice do you have for those who want to have this lifestyle but for some reason just don’t go forward? Living on the road is much harder than it seems. This lifestyle requires lots and lots of planning and thinking ahead, and often requires creative problem solving. We sometimes find ourselves in some crazy situations that the average person couldn't even come up with. Most days are great, and some days are really hard. With freedom comes independence, and that can mean having to figure out difficult problems on your own without depending on others. We value experiences more than things, and that is what this lifestyle is all about. Instagram Lost Coast Longboarding Visit website Lost Coast Longboarding
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Bros Around the Globe went to La Paz, Bolivia, and found the highest skatepark in the world, a 4,000 square-foot DIY at an altitude of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), where the air is so thin that you look for coca leaves and water all the time. A true breathless experience. We found ourselves wandering the unforgiving rough streets of La Paz in search of a skate spot that wasn’t cheese grater asphalt. Though it was June and winter in Bolivia, we had a warm bluebird day ahead of us, so the mission was on. After being kicked out of plaza after plaza, we decided to head to a municipal park on the outskirts of the city center. Somewhere to kick and push on some smooth flat ground without being hassled. We set off on our journey. La Paz Cable Car After an hour of walking uphill on busy city streets, what we would find at an altitude of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), we couldn’t have imagined in our wildest dreams. Maybe it was the thin air talking, but it literally took our breath away. There it was in all its glory: Pura Pura. Proof you can find a skatepark anywhere in the world, even in the most unlikely of places. The city of La Paz Bolivia Pura Pura is located in La Paz, Bolivia, bordering the neighbouring city of El Alto (The Tall). This 4,000-square-foot DIY masterpiece holds the crown for the highest-elevation skatepark in the world. The park was built in 2014 by a dedicated group of local skateboarders, who were frustrated with the lack of skateboarding infrastructure in the city and took matters into their own hands. The project was led in collaboration with Bolivian skater Milton Arellano, the Make Life Skate Life NGO, Levi’s Skateboarding, and an army of over a hundred volunteers from fifteen countries who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Camping out at the park during the build, in less than just one month, the team helped bring the vision to life. Rock and roll on the QP Implementing a true DIY mindset, the park was constructed using mostly recycled materials, including wood, bricks, cement, and steel coping Implementing a true DIY mindset, the park was constructed using mostly recycled materials, including wood, bricks, cement, and steel coping. A labour of love, it was designed with passion to be a community space where skateboarders of all levels could gather and practice their skills. The one-of-a-kind park features an assortment of obstacles, including quarter pipes, banks, stairs gaps, and rails. The transition is smooth and has a unique, organic flow that utilizes the natural features and contours of the land. We received a warm welcome from the local skaters during our visit who were amped to show us some of the best lines to be had in the park. We spent the day at the park and became friends as they helped us practice our Spanish and we helped them practice their English. However, it never ceases to amaze me, no matter where you find yourself in the world, skateboarding is a universal language. The session was all-time and resulted in a memory I will never forget. It was an amazing experience to skate this hand-built park made possible by old-fashioned hard work. Skaters worldwide are resilient and have a determined mindset: they won’t stop until they see something to completion. Break time due to the altitude The altitude here is no joke, leaving you gassed, reaching for coca leaves and water. Skating here, you need to take more breaks than unusual. The altitude here is no joke, leaving you gassed, reaching for coca leaves and water. Skating here, you need to take more breaks than unusual. While I was catching my breath, I let some local kids use my board. To my surprise, they were eager to alert me that it was their first time ever on a skateboard. We helped them get the hang of it and they were cruising in no time. Witnessing the smiles and stoke on their faces as they kicked and pushed on their own was priceless. This is why we travel. Since its construction, Pura Pura has become a hub for the local skateboarding community in La Paz and has also attracted skaters from around the world, who’ve come to Bolivia specifically to shred the park. It’s even been featured in several skateboarding documentaries and has helped put Bolivia on the map as a destination for skateboarding. To allow underprivileged kids in the area to get involved, skate gear is available for free from the Ayni Skate Project organization's youth center and offers free skate classes for at-risk youth every week. Teaching the local kids Despite its popularity, Pura Pura has faced some challenges over the years. In 2018, the park was threatened to be demolished by the local government, which claimed that it was built illegally on public land. However, after a campaign by the skateboarding community and support from international organizations, the park was ultimately allowed to stay. Since then, Ayni expanded its classes to El Alto in 2022, offering outreach on portable ramps. As a result of the construction of Pura Pura, Ayni has also built numerous skate spots in La Paz and El Alto, allowing disadvantaged youth to participate in skateboarding. Pura Pura is a true testament to the power of grassroots community building and the attitude of DIY skate culture. Providing a much-needed space for skateboarders in La Paz, the park has helped foster a sense of camaraderie and creativity within the local skateboarding scene that thrives to this day. Nick searching for line Website Bros around the Globe Visit Pura Pura skatepark
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In this episode Bros around the globe shows us how skateboarding helps us understand the different cultures around the world. In this blog you’ll get an idea about the influence of the collectivist culture in Southeast Asia and Latin America on the local skateboarding scene. Here’s an example: “In Asian and Latin countries, you will find old and young skaters both new and experienced supporting one another in the park or plaza.” Skateboarding is often associated with individualism or rebellion and may seem like an unlikely realm to find traces of collectivism. But the skateboarding community is a melting pot of cultures and people from all walks of life. More alike than different, every skater can relate to those memorable days on their boards, and the ones they’d rather forget. The good ones that remind us of why we skate and the shitty ones that leave us frustrated, questioning why we continue to put ourselves in pain. No matter where you are from, the common denominator remains: skaters are all searching for that next line or trick that keeps the stoke tank filled and has us coming back for more. Lenia Plaza Hanoi Throughout my travels around the world, I’ve observed a special influence on skating that stands out, particularly in Latin American and Southeast Asian countries: the heritage of collectivistic culture. With its emphasis on interconnectedness, harmony, and mutual support, Asian and Latin collectivism has found its way into the skateboarding world, creating a unique blend of individual expression and community spirit. For this installment of the skate and travel blog series, we will explore the principles of collectivist cultures and how they manifest in the skateboarding community, fostering a tight-knit and supportive community. Collectivistic culture is deeply rooted in traditions and values that prioritize the group over the individual. It emphasizes interdependence, cooperation, and maintaining harmonious relationships within the community. Key aspects of this culture embody themselves in the Latin American and Southeast Asian skate world, including a sense of duty, respect for authority, strong family ties, and the pursuit of collective goals. Regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or social background, skateboarders unite under a common passion for the lifestyle, fostering a deep sense of belonging The skateboarding community is renowned for its inclusivity and acceptance of diverse backgrounds. Asian and Latin collectivism further strengthens this unity and community by encouraging skateboarders to look beyond their differences and embrace a shared identity. Regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or social background, skateboarders unite under a common passion for the lifestyle, fostering a deep sense of belonging. This collectivism first revealed itself to me in Southeast Asia while traveling through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, and then in Latin countries by way of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Central America, and Mexico. Whether it be by local skaters organizing charity events, mentoring aspiring shredders, or working on local skatepark projects, they always keep the country’s entire skate scene in mind. Collectivist culture places a strong emphasis on respect for authority and intergenerational relationships. These values find expression in the skateboarding community through mentorship and guidance. Experienced skateboarders often take on the role of mentors, sharing their knowledge and skills with younger generations. This fosters a supportive atmosphere where beginners can learn from the wisdom of those who came before them, guiding them in both technical expertise and the community's values. With the OGs passing the torch, it assures skating's future is in the right hands, and tricks, styles, skate parks, and skate spots are respected. In Asian and Latin countries, you will find old and young skaters both new and experienced supporting one another in the park or plaza. Not to say it doesn’t happen in other parts of the world, but for these cultures in particular, it’s simply in their blood. In a collectivistic culture, collaboration and unified progression take precedence over individual achievement. In Asian and Latin lands, they want to be proud of skaters from their countries and how the rest of the skate world views them. This mindset has influenced the skateboarding community, where skateboarders often collaborate on DIY projects, filming video parts, or organizing events. By pooling their resources and skills, they not only create sick edits and put down steezy tricks to share with the world but also strengthen their bonds and uplift the community. First and foremost, Asian and Latin collectivism emphasizes a sense of responsibility towards their skateboard family. This value is embodied within the skateboarding community through various initiatives that give back. Whether it be by local skaters organizing charity events, mentoring aspiring shredders, or working on local skatepark projects, they always keep the country’s entire skate scene in mind. By engaging in these movements and initiatives local skaters reinforce the notion that their success is intertwined with the well-being of the community, and they actively contribute to its growth and development. After traveling to these regions with my board in an attempt to meet skaters from all around the world, the influence of Asian and Latin collectivistic culture on their skateboarding community is undeniable. It adds depth to the individualistic nature of the sport, creating a unique blend of self-expression and communal harmony. Through the principles of unity, mentorship, collaboration, and social responsibility, collectivist culture infuses the skateboarding community with a strong sense of interconnectedness and mutual support. As the skateboarding world continues to evolve and grow, it is essential to recognize and celebrate the diverse cultural influences that shape its vibrant and inclusive character. Website Bros around the Globe Read Blog Pura Pura skatepark
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Haroun Cherif, an amateur skateboarder who started skateboarding at the age of 42, created Trucks and Fins in December 2019, after figuring out there was not one website with all the skateparks in Portugal. He decided to make one for the skate community and, after travelling around the country for several months and visiting all the skateparks, thought it was time to step up the game and map out the entire world.
The project is ongoing like a seemingly never-ending skate trip and along the way Trucks and Fins has developed into a growing community of skaters, skate photographers, skatepark designers and builders.
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Trucks and Fins is a huge present to the whole skate community - not just for the skating people, but also for shops, builders and schools. Super easy to use and can't believe how complete it is.
Pascal Lieleg aka Official Bowlshit
Trucks and Fins is a great resource for checking on local spots if you are traveling or planning a road trip! A one stop resource that is constantly updated with the newest projects as well as those bucket list locations worldwide. The intuitive UI features gps coordinates as well as useful information about shops nearby.
Architect Betonlandschaften
Trucks and Fins provide a great service. Its quick and easy to use and has such a vast amount of parks included, not just in the UK but worldwide. CANVAS Spaces support the cause and fully back what they are doing.
Our skate community has been crying out for a comprehensive guide to global skate spots. Trucks and Fins should be commended on their dedication to mapping the world's STOKE!
Maverick Skateparks
Trucks and Fins brings all of the world's skateparks to you all in one convenient place through their endless search for parks around the world. They have park locations, details, images, and more to help plan your next skate quest wherever that may take you. We appreciate their dedication and passion for skateboarding and the amazing gifts that skateparks and skate spots are.
Steve Zanco, Skatepark Respect
A big part of skateboarding is about finding Animal Chin - your spirit animal, or in other words: whatever gets you stoked. Could be the right people to roll with, or that special dream terrain. Trucks and Fins has all the best skate destinations in one place; a map of stoke in your hands.
Jan Kliewer, Yamato Living Ramps
